Hoccleve's works. Ed. by Frederick J. Furnivall.

[HOCCLEVE'S "REGEMENT" FOR HENRY V. WHEN PRINCE OF WALES.]

[Proem.]

(289, [This stanza is under an illumination of a little poet on his knees presenting his book bound in pink to a tall crownd man standing, clad in a blue cloak, collard and lined with ermine. His under robe is colourd lake, with a black belt, studded with gold. The robe has a white-borderd pocket-slit near the top of the left thigh. The poet is in a dull brick red gown, borderd with yellow, and has lake hose. At foot is a coat of arms hung on the ornament, a fret, or, on sable, quartering a lion rampant or, gules. The arms of? Rich. Durrundill.] MS. Reg. 17, D vi, to st. 293.)

Hyë and noblë princë excellent, [folio 40a] Line 2017 My lord the prince, o my lord gracïous, I, humble seruaunt and obedient Vnto your éstate hye & glorious, Of whiche I am full tendir & full ielous, Line 2021 Me recomaunde vnto your worthynesse, With hert entier, and spirite of mekenesse. Line 2023

Line 2023

(290)

Right humbly axyng of you [the] licence, [folio 40b] Line 2024 That with my penne I may to you declare (So as that kan my wittës innocence,) Myne inward wille that thursteth the welefare Of your persone; and ellës be I bare Line 2028 Of blisse, whan þat the coldë stroke of deth My lyfe hath quenched, & me byraft my breth.

(291)

Though that my livelode and possession Line 2031 Be skant, I riche am of beneuolence; To you therof kan I be no nygon: Goode haue I none, by whiche your excellence May plesëd be; &, for myne impotence Line 2035 Stoppeth the way to do as I were holde, I write as he þat your goode lyfë faynë wolde.

(292)

Aréstotle, most famous Philosofre, Line 2038 His Epistles to Alisaundre sent, Whos sentence is wel bette than [that R.] gold in cofre, And more holsomer grounded to trewe entent: For all þat euer tho Epistles ment, Line 2042 To settë was þis worthy Conquerour, In reulë, how to sústene his honour. Line 2044

(293)

The tendir loue, and the feruént chiertee Line 2045 That this worthy clerk ay to this kyng bere, Trustyng his welthë durable to be, Vnto his hert[è] stak and satte so nere, That by writýng his counseill yave he clere Line 2049 Vnto his lord, to kepe hym fro myschaunce, As witnesseth his booke of gouernaunce. Line 2051

Line 2051

(294) (Harl. 4866 again.)

¶ Of which, and [eek] of Gyles of regyment [folio 37a] Line 2052 Of princes, plotmel thynke I to translate. And thogh that [that R, om. H.] senple be my sentëment, O worthi prince, I yow biseeche al-gate Considerith, how endityng hath in hate Line 2056 Mi dul conceyt, and nat accordë may With my childhode; I am so childissh ay. Line 2058

(295)

¶ Also byseeche I that þe altitude Line 2059 Of your estate—þogh þat þis pamfilet Non ordre holdë, ne in him include— Nat greuëd be, for I can do no bet. Anothir day, whan wit & I be met, [bette . . mette R.] Line 2063 Which longe is to, and han vs freenly [frendely.] kist, Descouere I wole, thát now is nat wist. Line 2065

(296)

¶ Nathëles, swich as is my smal konyng, Line 2066 Withal so treewe an [and H, an R.] herte, I wole it oute, As þo two dide, or euere Clerc lyfynge; But tremblyng is my spirit out of doute, That to performë þat I am a-boute; Line 2070 Allas! þe stuf of sad intelligence Me faillith, to speke in so hy presence. Line 2072

(297)

¶ Simple is my goost, and scars my letterure, [scarce my lettrure R.] Line 2073 Vnto your excellencë for to write Myn inward loue, and yit in áuenture Wyle I me puttë, thogh I can but lyte. Mi derë maistir—god his soulë quyte!— Line 2077 And fadir, Chaucer, fayn wolde han me taght; [Chaucer [in 1700 hand].] But I was dul, and lernèd lite [lerned right R.] or naght. Line 2079

Line 2079

(298)

¶ Allas! my worthi maister honorable, [folio 37b] Line 2080 This landës verray tresor and richesse, Deth, by thi deth, hath harme irreparable Vnto vs doon; hir vengeable duresse Despoilèd hath þis land of þe swetnesse Line 2084 Of rethorik; for vn-to [fro vs to R.] Tullius Was neuer man so lyk a-mongës vs. Line 2086

(299)

¶ Also, who was hiër in philosophie Line 2087 To Aristotle, in our tonge, but thow? The steppës of virgile in poesie Thow filwedist eeke, men wot wel y-now. That combre-world, þat þe, my maistir, slow, Line 2091 Wold I slayn were! deth was to hastyf To renne on þe, and reuë the thi lyf. Line 2093

(300)

¶ Deth hath but smal consideracïoun Line 2094 Vnto þe vertuous, I haue espied, No more, as shewith þe probacïoun, Than to a vicious maistir losel tried; A-mong an heep, euery man is maistried; [¶ Ecclesias|tici ijo. Mo|ritur doctus simul & in|doctus.] Line 2098 With hire, as wel þe porre as is þe riche; lered [Lered R, lerd H.] and lewde eeke standen al y-liche. Line 2100

(301)

¶ She myghte han taried hir vengeance awhile, Line 2101 Til that sum man had egal to thè be. Nay, lat be þat! sche knew wel þat þis yle May neuer man forth bryngë lyk to the, And hir officë needës do mot she; Line 2105 God bad hir so, I truste as for thi [the R.] beste; O maister, maister, god þi soule reste! Line 2107

[The original leaf 39 of the Harl. MS. 4866 is out. It con|taind lines 2108-2160. They are inserted here from MS. Reg. 17 D vi.] (302. The Regement. From MS, Reg. 17 D vi, to line 2160.)

Now to my matere, as that I began: [folio 42] Line 2108 There is a booke, Iacob de Cessoles, Of þe ordre of Prechours, made, a worthy man, That "the Chesse moralisèd" cleped is, In which I purpose eke to laboure y-wis, Line 2112 And here & there, as that my litell witte Afforthë may, I thynkë tránslate it. Line 2114

(303)

And al be it that in that placë square Line 2115 Of the lystës, I mane þe eschekere, A man may lernë to be wise & ware, I, that haue auentured many a yere, My witte there-in is but litill the nere, Line 2119 Save that somwhat I knowe a kyngës draught; Of other draughtës, lerned haue I naught. Line 2121

(304)

And, for that among the draughtës euerychone Line 2122 That vnto þe chessë appertenë may, Is none so nedëfull vnto your persone To knowe, as that of the cheertë verray That I haue hade vnto your noblesse ay, Line 2126 And shall, yf your plesaunce it be to here, A kyngës draught, reporte I shall now here. Line 2128

(305)

I am sure that the bookës allë thre, Line 2129 Redde hath & seen your Innat sapience; And, as I hope, her vertues folwen ye; But vnto you compile I this sentence, That, at the goode luste of your excellence, Line 2133 In short ye may behold and rede That in hem thre is skatered ferre in brede. Line 2135

Line 2135

(306)

And álthough it be no manér of nede [folio 42b] Line 2136 Yow to counseilë what to done or leve, Yf þat you liste of stories to take hede, Somwhat it may profitë, by your leve: Line 2139 At hardest, when [whan that R.] þat ye ben in Chambre at eve, They ben goodë to drivë forth the nyght; They shull not harme, yf þey be herd a-right.

(307)

To your hyenessë, thynke it not to longe, Line 2143 Though in that draught I somwhat wadë deepe; The thewës vertuous that to it longe Wacchen my gost, & letten him to slepe. Now God in vertu mayntene you and kepe! Line 2147 And I besechë your magnificence, Yeve vnto me benignë audience. Line 2149

(308)

For though I to the steppes clergyall Line 2150 Of thisë clerkës thre [may] not atteyne, Yit, for to putte in prees my cónceyte small Goode wille me arteth take on me the peyne; But sorë in me quappeth euery veyne, Line 2154 So dredefull am I of myne ignoraunce; The crosse of criste me spedë and auaunce! Line 2156

(309)

Now, gracious prince, agayn that the corone Line 2157 Honoure you shall with roial dignitee, Beseche I hym that sitte on hye in trone, That, when þat chargë réceyued han ye, [This line ends the extract from MS. Reg. 17 D vi. With the next line, Harl. 4366 begins again, and runs on to the end.] Swych gouernancë men may feele and se [folio 38a] Line 2161 In yow, as may ben vn-to his plesance, Profet to vs, and your good loos avance. Line 2163

[§ 1. ON THE DIGNITY OF A KING.]

(310)

¶ ffirst and foreward, the dignitee of kyng Line 2164 Impressid be in the botme of your mynde, Consideryng how chargeable a thyng That ofice is; for so ye schul it fynde. Vn-to good reulë ye yow knytte and bynde; Line 2168 Of goddës [goddes R, god H.] wrechë haue ay drede and awe; Do right to grete and smale, and keepë [y^e overline, later H, kepe your R.] lawe.

(311)

¶ Onës þer was a kyng, as I haue rad, Line 2171 Whan his coronë was vn-to hym broght, Or he it tok, in thoght he stood al sad, And þus he seidë, after he had thoght: "O þou corone, noble and faire y-wroght, Line 2175 What man that þe receyueth or admittith, More esë þan he weneth from hym flittith. Line 2177

(312)

¶ Who-so þe peril know, and charge and fere Line 2178 That is in the, thogh þou at therthe [thoght þou at hert H, though thou at the erthe R.] lay, He woldë noght the vp areyse or rere, But lat þe lyë stille, and go his way. ffor sooth is þis, and hath & schal ben ay, Line 2182 This worldës hook, enuye hath to his bayt, And ay hath hye degree sore in a-wayt." Line 2184

(313)

¶ Now, noble princë, thogh I be nat wys, Line 2185 Wel-willed am I, as I first yow tolde; In þe name of ihesu, wirke after þe auys That I compyle oute of this auctours olde. And if I nat the wey of reson holde, [folio 38b] Line 2189 ffolwe me nat; and if þat I do, thenne Do as I schal reportë with my penne. Line 2191

[§ 2. ON A KING'S KEEPING HIS CORONATION OATHS; AND ON TRUTH AND CAUTIOUS SPEECH.]

(314)

¶ Tho othës that at your creacïoun Line 2192 Shul thurgh your tongë [Shuly . . tong H, Shall . . tonge R.] passe, hem wel obserue; Lat no colóurëd excusacïoun Yow makë fro hem slippe aside or swerue; Holde vp hir lyf, [hede R.] lat hem nat in yow sterue; Line 2196 It is nat knyghtly [knygly H, knyghtly R.] from an oth to varie; A kyng of trouth, oweth bene exemplarie. Line 2198

(315)

¶ Lo! thus this Aristotle in his book seith Line 2199 To Alisandre, and to be war hym bit, That he ne breke his bondës ne his feith, ffor vn-to folke vntrewë longith it; He seith þat gracë nat in hym abit, Line 2203 But wikked ende and cursid áuenture Hym folowith, that forswere [to forswere R.] hym hath no cure.

(316)

¶ By [By the H R.] feith, is maad the congregacïoun Line 2206 Of peple, and of citès enhabitynge; By feith, han kyngës dominacïoun; ffeith causith eek of men þe comunynge; Castelx, by feith, dreden non ássailynge, Line 2210 By feith, þe Citees standen vnwerréyed, And kyngës of hir sogetȝ ben obeyed. Line 2212

(317)

¶ Who leeseth feith, gretter thyng may non leese. Line 2213 Or a man speke, or bynde hym by his sel, And hath his ful libérte, and may cheese What he do schal, hym oghte auyse hym wel Or he promette; and [and R, om. H.] heetë naght a deel [folio 39a] Line 2217 By word ne bond, but if he wole it laste; ffor who so dooth, schal smerten at þe laste. Line 2219

Line 2219

(318)

¶ Litel encheson haþ he for to speke, Line 2220 To whos wordës is [is R, om. H.] ȝeuen no credence: Perillous is, [is it R.] a man his feith to breke. ffeith, by necessite ne indigence Naght artid is: disceyt, [disceyue H, disceyte R.] & apparence Line 2224 Of trouthe outward, and inward fikilnesse, Bulteth [Bulteth R.] out schame, and causeþ gret smartnesse.

(319)

¶ What was þe cause of þe destruccïoun Line 2227 Of þe peple of Scites & of Arabiee, But for hir kyngës, in decepcioun Of men and Citees nyh to hir contre, Hir othis vseden, by sotilte Line 2231 Brekyngë bondës þat stablisshed were Mankynde to profitë, and not to dere? Line 2233

(320)

¶ And for þat synnë, goddës riȝtwisnesse, Line 2234 That punnysshith falshood and trecherie, Nat myghte hem suffre endure in þat woodnesse; But þey destroyed were, it is no lye. Vntrouthe, allas! þe ordre of chyualrie Line 2238 Dampneth it; thogh þat þe persone it vse, Knyghthode itself mot algate it refuse. Line 2240

(321)

¶ To god truste I, no lord in al þis lond Line 2241 Is gilty of þat inconuenience; ffy! what? a lord breke his byheste or bond? Nay, god forbedë þat that [such R.] pestilence In a lord dwelle, or holdë residence; [folio 39b] Line 2245 ffor if þat he that wicked geste recette, By suche a lorde wole honour no thing sette. Line 2247

Line 2247

(322)

¶ Whan Marcus Regulus was, as I rede, [¶ De fideli|tate Marci Reguli.] Line 2248 Venqwisshèd in a bataile of þe see By hem of Cartage, hoom wiþ hem þey lede This prisoner; and aftir, sent was he By hem to Romë, his ownë contre, Line 2252 Sworn to retournë to Cartage ageyn, As tullius And eek seint Austyn seyn. Line 2254

(323)

¶ The causë whi þey hym to Romë sente, Line 2255 Was for to do to Romayns hir message, Wityng of hem, if þat þey wolde [wolde R, worde H.] Assente, That, syn [sithin R.] ther werë Romayns in cartage In prisoun, and Romayns hadde eek in cage Line 2259 Cartagiens, suffre hem at largë goo, And þe Romayns go schulden [shulde R, schuld H.] [fre] also. Line 2261

(324)

¶ Whan Marcus doon hadde as þat he was bode, Line 2262 The senat axid hym what was his reed; And he answerde, and seidë [seid H, seide R.] þus for gode:— "Al þis, rede I, lat slepen, [slippen R.] & ben deed; It may by no way sinke in-to myn heed, Line 2266 That to vs Romayns were it couenable, Swiche an eschaungë; but [is but R.] vnprofitable. Line 2268

(325)

¶ "We Romayns þat þey han in prison loke, Line 2269 Ben but ȝonge froth, vnlernëd in batayle, And othir feble folk with age I-broke, Of whiche I am on; we may nat availe; Of vs no losse is; but with-outen faile, [folio 40a] Line 2273 Ȝoure prisoners [prisoners R, prioners H.] ben myghty men and wyse, And folk in armës preeuëd at deuyse." Line 2275

Line 2275

(326)

¶ His freendës wolde han holde hym stillë there, Line 2276 But thei nat myghte; he wolde alwey retourne; To breke his oth, his goost was ay in fere; He þoghte noght in his [his R, om. H.] contre soiourne. Do qwat hem list, whether thei glade or mourne, Vnto his foos as bliuë he hym dressith, And knewe wel to be deed, the book witnéssith.

(327)

¶ He held [heled H, helde R.] it bette his oth for to obserue, Line 2283 And dye in honur, as þat a knyght oghte, [sholde . . wolde . . be olde R.] Than by periúrie his lif for to preserue; Of suche vnknyghtly trikkës he nat roghte. [sholde . . wolde . . be olde R.] I trowë now-a-dayës, thogh men soghte, [sholde . . wolde . . be olde R.] Line 2287 His heir ful hard were in þis land to fynde; Men list not so ferforth to trouthe hem bynde.

(328)

¶ Ȝit nat only to preyse is this Marcus Line 2290 ffor trouthë, but eek, as it semeth me, His renoun oghtë doubled ben, as þus— Where as theschangë myghte han maad hym fre, Qwit of his foos [fees (altered to foos) of R.] prisoun, gretter cheerte Line 2294 He hadde of the profet vníuersel Than of hym self: his deeth it preued wel. Line 2296

(329)

¶ Amongës allë [alle R, al H.] þingës in a knyght, [¶ Nota de Alexandri iuramento.] Line 2297 Trouthe is a þing that he ne lakkë may, If his honur schal bere his heed vp right. Valerie tellith how, wiþ greet array, [(R) De iura|mento regis Alexandri observato.] Kyng Alisandre and his oost, on a day, [folio 42(40)b] Line 2301 Meeued of ire and maléncolye, Vn-to a citee dressid hym in hye, Line 2303

Line 2303

(330)

¶ Whichë þat clept and called was Lapsat, Line 2304 Purpósynge [H R insert "him."] bete it to þe erthe adoun; And or þat this kyng fully cam ther-at, Ther was a Philosophere in þe toun,— A man of excellent discrecïoun, Line 2308 That to this kyng somtyme had maister be,— fful sore abasshed of him & his meyne. Line 2310

(331)

¶ Out of þe toun he spedde hym on his weie, Line 2311 As hastely as þat he coude or myghte, Toward þe kyng, of grace hym for to preie; And ás swithe as þe kyng hadde of hym sighte, He knewe him and his menynge; and on highte [Harl. MS. "zighte," hight R.] He seide him þus: "by þe goddës I swere, Al þi labour schal nat be worth a pere; Line 2317

(332)

¶ At þi prayerë do wole I no þing." Line 2318 This Philosophre of his ooth took good hede, And seide, "o worthy conquerour and kyng, Than prey I þe, vnto the toun þè spede, And it destroyë bothe in lengthe & brede; Line 2322 Haue on it no pitee, but al doun caste; This pray I þe, þat may [þat it R.] be done as faste." Line 2324

(333)

¶ And whan þe kyng his prayere vnderstood, Line 2325 Al his angir and his irrous [errenous R.] talent Refreynèd he; he woldë for no good On þe toun vengë him, as he had ment; He rathir chees be disobedient [folio 41a] Line 2329 To his vengeáble wil, and his oth kepe, Than be forsworn of þat he swoor so depe. Line 2331

Line 2331

(334)

¶ Or a kyng swere, it is ful necessarie Line 2332 A-vise hym [hem H, hym R.] wel; for whan þat it is past, He may his oth in no wise contrarie, If he of sham or repreef be agast. A kyng owéth of word be stidëfast; Line 2336 No thing byhetë, but he it perfourme, If he wole hym vnto his state conforme. Line 2338

(335)

¶ A greet clerk, whiche clept is Crisostomus, [¶ Crisosto|mus super Matthaeum omelia 12. Nisi consue|tudo interdi|catur non possunt am|putari per|iuria. Ex iuramento enim periu|rium genera|tur; sicut enim qui habet in con|suetudine multum loqui neccesse est vt aliquando importune loquitur, sic, qui habet consuetudi|nem iurare in rebus ydoneis frequenter & in rebus superfluis & nolens con|suetudine trahente periurat. In Canone xxij. q. ij ¶ Isti tres. luramentum tres habet condiciones, videlicet, ve|ritatem, iudi|cium & iusti|ciam: verita|tem silicet, vt iurans sciat vel credat verum esse quod iurat; Iudicium, id est, discre|cionem vt discrete iuret, non precipi|tanter.] Line 2339 Where he of the [the, om. H R.] matir of sweryng tretith, Thyse arn the wordës that he writ to vs:— "What man þe custume of othës nat letith, In sweryng oftë, what he seith forgetith; Line 2343 Vsage of othes, of periurie is cause." And more he seith eke in þe samë clause. Line 2345

(336)

¶ He seith, "periurie engendrid is of othis; [othis R, this H.] Line 2346 ffor right as he þat custumably Clappith and ianglith, and to stint loth is, Moot othir whilë speke vnsittyngly, Right so, vsage of swering, enemy Line 2350 To trouthe is, and makith men hem forswere;" fful necessarie is, othis to for-bere. Line 2352

(337)

¶ Swering haþ thisë [thise R, this H.] thre condicïouns Line 2353 ffolwynge, as trouthë, doom, and rightwisnesse. Oth axiþ trouthe, and no decepcïouns, But swere in his ententë sothfastnesse. Doom moot discreetly, left [left R, lest H.] al hastynesse, [folio 41b] Line 2357 Swere, and nat needles; and iustice also, Leeffuly swere, and iustly euermo. Line 2359

Line 2359

(338)

¶ Quintilian seith, þat vn-to hygh degre, [¶ Quintili|anus dicit, iurare nisi vbi neccesse est, grani viro,—id est, nobili & fa|moso,—pa|rum conuenit; verbum enim satis simplex in Rege vel in principe firmior sit quam iura|mentum in mercatore.] Line 2360 Vnsittynge is to swere in any wise, Bút it be causid of necessite; ffor, as he seiþ, and othir clerkis wise, A kyng or princes word oghtë suffise Line 2364 Wel morë than, oghte a marchántes oth, And to go ther ageyn be morë loth. Line 2366

(339)

¶ And syn a princes oth, or his promesse, Line 2367 Whan þei nat holden ben, him dishonure, [An instance of Hoccleve's false ryme of -oure -ure. See p. 21 above, and 'Minor Poems,' I, p. xxxix.] His lettre and seel, whiche more open witnesse Beren than þei, good is take hede and cure [An instance of Hoccleve's false ryme of -oure -ure. See p. 21 above, and 'Minor Poems,' I, p. xxxix.] That þei be kept; writingë wil endure; [[R] Litera scripta ma|net.] Line 2371 What a man is, it prest is for to preue; Outhir, honure it shal him, or repreue. Line 2373

(340)

¶ Now if it happe, as it haþ happed ofte, Line 2374 A kyng in nedë borwe of his marchántis, Greet wisdom were it tretë faire & softe, And holde hem truëly her couenantis; ffor trust it wel, whan hir couénant is Line 2378 Nat to hem kept, as þat hir bonde requerith, The kyng haþ schame, and eke it hem mys-cherith.

(341)

¶ Loth wolde hem ben eft-sonës for to lene; Line 2381 He þat is brent, men seyn, dredith þe fire. Be his day kept, he rekkeþ nat a bene, But elles, siker, "don is in þe myre." [Cp. 'Chaucer' and 'Towneley Plays,' &c.] Wiþ-outen dowte, a Marchantës desir [folio 42a] Line 2385 Is with good herte his kyng honour and plese, And, to his myght, refresche & doon him ese.

(342)

¶ In hem is þe substaunce of euery lone: Line 2388 What folk cheuyce, as mochil as doon they? Excellent Prince, I demë your persone, To hem and to al othir, in good fay, Wole holdë þat ye heeten hem alway, Line 2392 And so to do, god, þe auctour of trouthe, Yow graunte! and elles certes were it routhe.

(343)

¶ If þat a poorë man breke his byheste, Line 2395 Or do ageyn his oth, or seel, or lettre, Men hente him by þe heed, and him arreeste, And to prisón he gooth; he gette no bettre, Til his mainpernour his arrest vnfettre; Line 2399 And yit he moot þe cours of lawe abyde, Or his mainpernour mot deffende his syde. Line 2401

(344)

¶ Among the poorë peple thus it goth, Line 2402 Thei, for vntrouthe, han smert & open schame; And if a lorde his bond breke, or his oth, ffor soþe it is a foul spot in his name; Thogh men dare not opynly him diffame, Line 2406 Thei þinke, al be it þat þei no thing speke; In swichë lordës is vntrouthe I-reke. Line 2408

(345)

¶ And syn a kyng, by wey of his office, Line 2409 To god I-likned is, as in manere, And god is trouthe itself, þan may the vice Of vntrouthë, naght in a kyng appeere, If his officë schal to god referre. [folio 42b] [¶ Iacobus iij. Si quis verbo non offendit, perfectus est vir.] Line 2413 A besy tongë bringeth in swiche wit, He þat by word naght gilteþ, is perfit. Line 2415

Line 2415

(346)

¶ A! lord, what it is fair and honurable, Line 2416 A kyng from mochil spechë him refreyne; It sitte him ben of wordes mesuráble, ffor mochil clap wole his estate desteyne. If he his tongë with mesurës reyne Line 2420 Gouernë, than his honur it conserueth; And by þe reuers, diëth [deyeth R, dith H.] it and sterueth. Line 2422

(347)

¶ Bet is, þe peples erës thriste and yerne [¶ Aristoteles (de regis con|tinencia a multiloquio dicit R): Melius est quod aures hominum sint sitibundi ad Regis elo|quia, quam suis affatibus sacientur: quia saturatis auribus ani|ma eciam saturatur. Prouerbia|rum x. In multilo|quio non deerit pecca|tum. ¶ Ecclesias|tici capitulo xix^o. Qui odit loquaci|tatem, extin|git maliciam. Prouerbia|rum xiij. ¶ Qui custo|dit os suum, custodit ani|mam, qui autem &c.] Line 2423 Hir kyng or princes wordës for to here, Than þat his tongë goo so faste & yerne That mennës erës dul of his mateere; ffor dullynge hem, dulleþ þe herte in fere Line 2427 Of hem þat yeuen to him audience; In mochil spechë wantiþ not offence. Line 2429

(348)

¶ Who so þat hatiþ mochil clap or speche, Line 2430 Qwenchiþ malice; and he þat his [his R, þis H, with 'his' in corrector's hand in margin.] mouth kepiþ, Keepith his soule, as þat þe bookës teeche. Vnbridlid wordës oftë man by-weepiþ; Prudencë wakiþ whan þe tongë sleepiþ, Line 2434 And slepith oftë whan þe tongë wakiþ; Moderat speche engendrith reste, and makith.

(349)

¶ Allë [Alle R, Al H.] naturës of bestës and briddes Line 2437 And of serpentës ben ymakid [ymaked R, makid H.] tame, [¶ Iacobi iij. Omnes nature bestiarum, volucrum & serpentum domantur. [R] Item in eodem: Lin|gua maculat totum corpus nostrum, &c.] But tonge of man, as it wel knowe & kid is, Nat may be tamed; o, fy! man, for schame! [Leaf 45 is out of the Harl. MS. 4866. It contained lines 2441-2492. They are supplied here from MS. Reg. 17 D, vi, leaf 47 back, leaf 48.] Silence of tunge is wardein of good fame; Line 2441 And after repreef fissheth, clappeth, fouleth; The tunge of man, all the body defouleth. Line 2443

Line 2443

(350)

And that [þat] oute of tunge of kyng procedeth, [[MS. Reg. 17 D 6.]] Line 2444 The peple specially beren awey. Wherfore, vnto a kyng þe more it nedeth Avise hym what he spekë shall alwey, In mochell spechë som behestë [MS. behest.] may Line 2448 Lightly astertë, that may not be holde; And than [þe] trouthë begynneth to colde. Line 2450

(351)

O worthy princë, this, loo, meveth me Line 2451 Of trouthë for to touchë thus sadly, For that I woldë that the hye degree Of Chiualrië vniuersally Bare vp his hede, & bentë [MS. bent.] not awry; Line 2455 Of his honour, vntrouthe a knyght vnlaceth, And his renoun all vttirly defaceth. Line 2457

(352 abb aa cc.)

And failyng it, the chief flour of his stile Line 2458 Fadeth & falleth, & begynneth dye. [MS. to dye.] Honoure appropred is to chiualry[e]. But now passe ouer; touche I wole a while Of rightwisnesse, which that out of this ile Line 2462 Purpóseth fully for to fare & wende, So is our reule vnthrifty & vnthende. Line 2464

[§ 3. OF JUSTICE.]

(353)

Seint Ancelme seith, Iustice is liberte [[R] Ansel|mus libro Cur deus homo. Justicia est animi liber|tas, tribuens vnicuique quod suum est secundum propriam dignitatem, &c.] Line 2465 Of will, yeuyng vnto euery wight Thát longeth to his propre dignite; To god, obedience, as it is right; And he þat poor is of degree & myght, Line 2469 Vnto his better, honour & reuerence; The grete eke to the smale, lore & science. Line 2471

Line 2471

(354)

To thyne egall, concorde; vnto thy foo, [[MS. Reg. 17 D 6.]] Line 2472 Suffrauncë; & to thy self, holynesse; To the nedy, greved with wrecched wo, Mercy in dede, & rewë his distresse After thy power, & releve in heuynesse; [¶ Scriptum est: Sola be|neuolencia sufficit aman|ti, si facultas deest bene|ficiendi, &c.] Line 2476 And rewe vpon hym, yf that thy myght faile, For þat will shall þy dedë countervayle. Line 2478

(355)

Who-so it be that Iusticë verray [Si quis es qui iusticiam veram sectari desideras, time prius deum.] Line 2479 Desireth folowe, first mote he god drede, And loue as hertly [MS. also hertily.] as he kan & may. It not suffiseth to do no noyous dede, [Scriptum est: Non nocere, non est ius|ticia, sed mali abstinencia, &c.] But who annoyë hym wold it forbede; Line 2483 For none anoyë is no righwisnesse, But it is abstinence of wickkednesse. Line 2485

(356)

Of counceill & of helpe we be dettoures [MS. doctoures.] [Scriptum est: Ipso iure fra|ternitatis & societatis humane con|silii & auxilii debitores su|mus. Hoc enim volu|mus vt & ipsi nobis impen|dant consili|um, quo nos|tra erudiatur ignorancia, & auxilium quo iuretur infirmitas nostra.] Line 2486 Eche to other, by right of bretherhede; For whan a man y-falle in-to errour is, His brother ought hym counceille & rede To correcte & amende his wikked dede; Line 2490 And yf he be vexed with maladie, Mynystre hym helpe, his greef to remedie. Line 2492

(357)

[Harleian MS. 4866 begins again.] ¶ Euery man owiþ studien [to studie R.] and muse [Harl.4866 folio 43a] [[R] Vnusquis que fratrem suum docere studeat, que oporteat vel non oporteat facere, prouo|cans eum ad meliora, & consulens que recta sunt coram Deo; et hoc non verbo tan|tum, sed opere &c.] Line 2493 To teche his brothir what þing is to do, And what be-houëly is [byhoveth for.] to refuse; That þat is good, prouokyng him þerto; And þus he mote conseille his brothir, lo! Line 2497 "Do þat right is, and good, to goddës pay, In word nat only, but in werk al-way." Line 2499

Line 2499

(358)

¶ Lawëful iustice is, as in manere, [¶ Egidius in ij parte primi libri, capitulo xi^o. Legalis iusticia est quodam modo omnis virtus; habere enim huiusmodi iusticiam est implere legem &c. [R.] Si igitur lex iubet omne bonum, prohibet omne malum, implere le|gem est per|fecte virtuo|sum, et iuusticia est integra et perfecta ma|licia &c. ¶ Aristoteles capitulo de forma et modo iusticie. 'Iusticia est de natura dei,' &c.] Line 2500 Al vertu; and who wole han þis iustice, The lawe of crist, to kepë mot he leere. Now if þat lawë fórbeede euery vice, And cómande al good þing, and it cherice, Line 2504 ffulfillë lawë, is [it is R.] vertu perfyt, And in-iustice is of al vertu qwyt. Line 2506

(359)

¶ Iustice is of the kynde and the nature Line 2507 Of god; and he haþ made it, and ordeyned On remës and on euery crëature. By iustice, is schedyng of blood refreyned, And gilt punýsched, whan it is compleyned. Line 2511 Iusticë déffendeth possessions, And peple kepeþ from oppressions. [oppressions R, appressions H.] Line 2513

(360)

¶ A kyng is made to kepen and maynteene Line 2514 Iustice, for she makith obéisant The mysdoers þat proudë ben & keene; And hem þat ben in vertu hábundant Cherisith; a kyng is, by couenant Line 2518 Of ooth maad in his coronacioun, Boundë [And bounden R.] to iustices sauuacioun. Line 2520

(361)

¶ And a kyng, in fulfillinge of þat, is [folio 43b] Line 2521 To god lik, whiche is verray rightwisnesse; And men of yndë seyn and holden þis— 'A kyngës iustice is a greet richesse Vnto his peple, as plentee or largesse Line 2525 Of erthly good, and bettre þan reyn ffallynge at eue from heuen,' þei seyn. Line 2527

Line 2527

(362)

¶ fful often sithë [sothe R.] it is wist and seen, Line 2528 That for þe wrong and þe vnryghtwisnesse Of kyngës mynistres, þat kyngës bene Holden gilty, where-as in soothfastnesse Thei knowen no þing of þe wikkednesse; Line 2532 Vniust mynístres ofte hir kyng accusen, And thei þat iust ben, óf wrong hem excusen.

(363)

¶ If þe ministres do naght but iustice Line 2535 To poorë peple, in contre as þei go, Thogh þe kyng be vniust, yit is his vice Hid to þe peple; thei wene eueremo The kyng be iust, for his men gye hem so. Line 2539 But ministres to seelde hem wel gouerne; Oppressïoun regneth in euery herne. Line 2541

(364)

¶ A kyng, me thinkeþ, for þe seuerte Line 2542 Of his good loos, by-houeþ it enquere Of hem þat han his éstate in cheerte, What famë þat his poore peple him bere; He of iustice is bounden hem to were Line 2546 And to diffende; and if þat þei be greued, By him thei mot be holpen and releued. Line 2548

(365)

¶ Excusë schal hym naght his ignorance; [folio 44a] Line 2549 He mot enquere of wrong, and it redresse; ffor þat he peple haþ in gouernance, He clept is kyng: if his men peple oppresse, Witynge hym, and noght rekke of the duresse, Line 2553 He may, be ryght, be clept no gouernour, But of his peple a wilful déstroyour. Line 2555

Line 2555

(366)

¶ O worthi king! benyngne Edward þe laste! Line 2556 Thow haddist ofte in herte a drede impressid, Whiche þat þyn humble goost ful sore a-gaste; And to know if þou cursed were or blessid, A-mong þe peple ofte hastow þe dressed Line 2560 In-to contre, in symple array allone, To herë what men seide of þi persone. [See, among others, "A Tale of King Edward and the Shepherd," in Hartshorne's Metrical Tales (from T. Wright).] Line 2562

(367)

¶ Al-thogh a kyng haue hábundance of myght [¶ Sapientie. v^o [i.e. cap. 6]. Quia non recte iudicas|tis [R. neque custodistis legem iusticie &c.].] Line 2563 In his land, at his lust knytte & vnknytte, Good is þat he his power vse ariȝt, That fro the wey of iustice he ne flitte, Leste oure lord god hym from his gracë schitte, Line 2567 Of whom al rightwis power is deryued; ffor if he doo, of blisse he schal be pryued. [pryved R, preyued H.] Line 2569

(368)

¶ I fynde how þat Theódorus sireene, [Surcene R. (See Smith's Dict. Greek and Roman Biography. Theodorus 32. Cyrenaicus.)] [¶ Refert va|lerius maxi|mus qualiter Theodorus sirenus cruci|figebatur quia regem de lisemaco arguebat pro suis defecti|bus &c.] Line 2570 ffor þat he to þe kyng of Lysëmak Tolde his defautës, þe kyng leet for teene Crucifie him; and as he heng & stak Vppon þe croys, þus to þe kyng he spak: Line 2574 "This peyne, or othir like þer-to, moot falle Vppon þi falsë counsaillourës [Counsaillours, H, counceilours R.] alle. Line 2576

(369)

¶ "Nought rekke I thogh I rote an hy or lowe, [lowe R, lawe H.] [folio 44b] Line 2577 As he þat of þe deth hath no gastnesse; I dye an innocent, y do the knowe; I dyë to defendë rightwisnesse. Thy flatereres, en-haunced in richesse, Line 2581 Dreden to suffre for riȝt suche a peyne, But I thereby nat settë resshës tweyne." Line 2583

Line 2583

(370)

¶ Ther was a duke Romayn, clept Cámilus, [¶ Nota bene de generosi|tate & iusticia ducis Camili, & de falsitate cuiusdam Magistri qui pueros habe|bat informan|dum & doctri|nandum.] Line 2584 Leyde onës seegë vn-to a citee, ffalisk [Falex R.] namèd, as seiþ valerius, Of whiche the men of moost auctorite, And grettest of power and of degre, Line 2588 To a Maister in þe citee dwellinge, Bytook hir children, by wey of lernynge. Line 2590

(371)

¶ What doth me this maister, but on a day Line 2591 Somme of tho children out of þe tounë [towne R, toun H.] ledde, The most expert in science, and þe way Streight to þe Romayn tentës he hym spedde; And þe duke þus counsailled he, and redde: Line 2595 "Haueth this children in possessïoun, And kepith hem in holde and in prisoun; Line 2597

(372)

¶ "The fadres of hem han in gouernaunce Line 2598 ffalisk [Falex R.] þe citee, at hir ownë list; In hy and low, aftir hir ordenance Is al þing doon: Whan it is to hem [hem R, hym H.] wist, That ȝe hir children han vndir your fist, Line 2602 Ye schul wel seen, hir children lyf to saue, Hem and þe citee schul ye wynne & haue." Line 2604

(373)

¶ The duke answerde anon to þis traytour: [folio 45a] Line 2605 "Thogh þou be fals vn-to þyn ownë toun, And rekkest nat of shame or déshonour, But per cas for to gete of me guerdoun Desirest ffaliskës [Falexes R.] déstruccïoun, Line 2609 Nat were it knyghtly, me to þè consente, That taken hast so traytourous entente. Line 2611

Line 2611

(374)

¶ "We Romayns kepen riȝtës of bataile Line 2612 As trewëly as þe rightës of pees; Our custume is, no children to assayle; Thogh we þe toun hadde wonnë, doutëlees Ther schulde no childe amongës al [amonge all R, among as H.] þe prees Line 2616 ffor vs han greued be; we armës bere A-geyn the armëd men, hem for to dere, Line 2618

(375)

¶ "And naght a-geyn children vndéfensable. Line 2619 In þat in þe is, þi myght hastow do, Thorgh wicked tresoun, false and déceyuable, Thi citee to destroyen and for-doo; But I, Romayn, agree me nat þerto; Line 2623 By vertu of armés wole I it wynne, ffor al þe myght of men þat ben þerinne." Line 2625

(376)

¶ The duke comaundeth, [comaunded R.] schortly for to seyn, Line 2626 His handës hym be-hindë to be bounde, And bad þe children lede hym hoom a-geyn To hir fadres; whiche, whan þat þey han founde So greet iusticë in þis duke habounde, Line 2630 The senat clept, and þis vnto hem tolde; The hertës gan to change, of yonge & olde; Line 2632

(377)

¶ All þey seiden, of hyë [hye R, hy H.] gentillesse, [folio 45b] Line 2633 Groundid vppon iustice, did he þis, And also of a chiualrous prowesse; Thei seiden, "it to vs most sitting is Oure ȝatës opne, & offre vs to ben his; Line 2637 Is non so good, as lat vs mollifie Our hertës stoutë [stout H, and stonde R.] to his genterie, Line 2639

Line 2639

(378)

¶ "And of his pees, requiren hym & preye." Line 2640 They diden so; but what was foluynge, Nouȝt haue I red, wher-fore I can nat seie; But þis Iust duke, as by my súpposynge, Was to hem swiche, in wil & in workynge, Line 2644 That [That R, What H.] he hem quittë so as myȝte hem queme: What schulde I elles of suche a lordë [lorde R, lord H.] deme?

(379)

¶ Of Lancastre good duke henri also, [Henry, the first of the Plantagenet dukes of Lancaster, and father-in-law of John of Gaunt, one of the greatest men of the reign of Edward III.—T. Wright.] [[R] De nobili Henrico quondam Lancastrie duce.] Line 2647 Whos Iustice is writén and auctorised, Whi schulde I nat þè rekene a-mongës þo That in hir tyme han Iustice excercised? Ȝit þat vertu only nat haþ suffised Line 2651 To þe, but al þat longith to knyȝthode Was inned in þyn excellent manhode. Line 2653

(380)

¶ I rede also how þat—hangynge a strif Line 2654 Betwixt kyng Porrus and a lord clept ffabrice— [¶ Nota de fidelitate cuiusdam domini vocati ffabricius, & de falsitate cuiusdam medici.] The leche of þys kyng, a cursëd caitif Inuolued and y-wrappëd [ywrapped R, wrapped H.] in þe vice Of couetisë, schoop hym for to trice Line 2658 His ownë lord þe kyng, & hym to kille, If þat it haddë ben fabricës wille. Line 2660

(381)

¶ This leche vn-to fabrices house by nyght, [folio 46a] Line 2661 As priuely as þat he coudë, went, And vnto him ensuryd & be-hyght, If him list to þe dedë [then] consent,— He was so glad to plese him & content, [content R, concent H.] — Line 2665 His lorde þe kyng with venym wolde he fede, So þat ther-þurgh he steruen shuldë nede. Line 2667

Line 2667

(382)

¶ This lorde, with þat, bad men his handës teye, [teye R, cey H.] Line 2668 And lede vnto þe kyng þis traytrous [lede . . this traiterous R, led . . þeis traytours H.] wight, And al þis treson vnto him be-wreye. Whan þis was done, þe Kyng seyde anone right, "Se here a trowth and manhode of a knyght! Line 2672 Men may the sonne as lightly his curse [cours R.] reue, As þis fabrices make his trowthë [trouthe R, trouth H.] leue." Line 2674

(383)

¶ In Perse onës [ones R, one H.] þer was, by Iugëment [¶ Nota de iusticia cuiusdam Regis, qui quendam iudicem ex|coriari fecit, quia falsum reddidit iudicium [R. versus quen|dam, causa odij.]] Line 2675 A man to deþë [dethe R, deþ H.] dampnyd in wrong wyse, ffor wrath and hate, & þe [and R.] irous talent Þat to þis ilkë [ilke R, ilk H.] man bare the Iustice; And whan þe knoulech of þis false iowyse [iewyse R.] Line 2679 Was comyn vnto þe kyngës audience, Þis dome he ȝafe as blyue, and þis sentence: Line 2681

(384)

¶ He bad men fla [flee R.] hym quyk out of his skynne, Line 2682 And þer-with keuyr þe iudicial see, And made his sonë to be set þer-inne, That iuge aftir his fadir sholdë be, To þis ende and entencïoun, þat he Line 2686 Shuldë [Shulde R, shuld H.] be ware how [how R, whow H. "Whow" occurs also in the (?Midland) quaint "Jacob's Well," Fons Jacobi, Salisbury Cathedral MS. 103, which explains Prof. Skeat's name. See The Academy, Aug. 27, 1892. (The MS. is now at press for the E. E. T. Soc.)] he his domës ȝafe, And lene alwey to right-wysenessë staffe. [ȝaf rightwisnesses staf R.] Line 2688

(385)

¶ Naght ought a iugë, for hatrede [hate H R.] or loue [folio 46b] Line 2689 Othir wey demë þen trouth [than trouthe R.] requirith, But, at þe reuerence of god aboue, Right ay fauoúr, whan þat it apperith. Dede of iustice a [ay R.] conciëncë clerith, Line 2693 Chasyng a-way thoughtës on wrong I-groundid; Who iuggith wrongfully, is feendly woundid.

(386)

¶ What Iuge in dome eke ȝeuyth [yeveth R, ȝeuyt H.] iust sentence, [¶ Gregorius. Qui recte iu|dicat, & pre|mium remu|neracionis ex|pectat, frau|dem in deo perpetrat, quia iustici|am quam gratis partiri debuit, accep|tacio peccunie vendit.] Line 2696 A-wayting vp-on a golden dragee, [draggee R.] To god he doth displesaunce & offence; ffor þe iusticë wich of duëtee [duetee R, dutee H.] He shuldë [shulde R, shuld H.] do, cursidly sellith he, Line 2700 ffor loue of mede him prouokiþ þer-to, And riȝtwysnessë no þing so to do. Line 2702

(387)

¶ To swich a iugë withdrawë þe hope [Eodem capit|ulo: cui si spes peccunie subtrahatur, confestim a iusticia re|cedit. ¶ Ysaye 33^o. Qui excutit manus suas ab omni mu|nere, iste in excelsis habi|tabit.] Line 2703 Of money, and he fro iusticë flyttyþ; Wher he supposith mony [for] to grope, Iust iugëment he in his hert admittith; But who so þat his hand fro ȝiftys shittith,— Line 2707 As vnto vs wyttenessith ysaye,— He shal in heuen dwelle, & sitten hye. Line 2709

(388)

¶ Cristen men, ȝelde oughten iust iugëment [xj. q. iij. non licet & xiiij. q. v. Sane, Iustum qui|dem iudicium gratis reddere debent Chris|tiani, quia non licet ven|dere iustum iudicium, quamiuis viro perito liceat vendere con|silium, &c.] Line 2710 ffrely, for vnleful is it to selle; Thogh it be leful and conuenient, A wyse man for rewarde his reed to telle. A iuges purs, with goldë noght shulde swelle; Line 2714 If one iustice he shape his dome to bilde, His iugëmentës he ȝiftlés must ȝilde. Line 2716

(389)

¶ And he þat doth of iusticë rigoure, [folio 47a] [¶ Scriptum est: Qui ri|gorem iusticie excercere in|tendit, caueat ne puniendo delectet, vel iniurias suas vlcisci glori|entur; caueat eciam ne mo|dum excedat aut quantita|tem delicti.] Line 2717 Let hym be ware he hauë no delyte In [þe] punýsshyng of þe óffendoure, Þat haþ I-do þe trespase, or the wyte; Ner him reioyse of his anoyance plyte, [Never . . . noiaunce lite R.] Line 2721 Ne þe maner excede in swichë [suche R, swich H.] case, Or quantite of þe gilt, or þe trespace. Line 2723

Line 2723

(390)

¶ Euen as a soule is bodies lyflynesse, Line 2724 And when þat it [it, om. H.] is twynëd from a wight [¶ Egidius in ij^da parte primi libri capitulo xj^o. Sicut anima est corporis vita, &c.] The hert is dede, so farith right-wisenesse; ffor whan a reme is reulid by hir myght, Þen may the peple be ful gladde & lyght, Line 2728 Þe londe may bathen in prosperite; And lost is al, if þat absent be she. Line 2730

(391)

¶ Ther was a lawe I-made vppon a tyme [¶ Nota bene! qualiter satis|iactum erat legi per quondam consulem Romanum.] Line 2731 At romë, by the consoulës assent, Þat who so werë gilty of þe cryme Of áduoutrië, and were þer-in hent. His eyen bothë shulden [bothe shuld R, both shuld H.] out be brent. Line 2735 Now fel it so, a man þat sonë was To a conseil, was take in þis trespas. Line 2737

(392)

¶ And whan þat þe myshappe of þis persone Line 2738 Was to þe peple knowën of þe toune, Thei loueden his fadir so, echon, And had him in so chere [grete R.] affeccioun, Þei seyden þat non execucioun [execucioun R, excusacioun H.] Line 2742 Shuld on þis sonë for this dedë falle, And þe consulës so þei preyden alle. Line 2744

(393)

¶ To [To R, Tho H.] which þe fadir gan replië þo, [folio 47b] Line 2745 And þus allegëd he for him, & seyde [seyde R, leyde H.] :— "Considereth, sires, I am oon of þo Þat to þis lawe consentid and obeide; And shulde I now þe samë breke," he seyde, Line 2749 "ffor fauour of myself or any of myne? Nay, sirrës, to þat may I not enclyne. Line 2751

Line 2751

(394)

¶ "Maffeith [Parde R.] ! þat werë wrong and villonye! Line 2752 Þe lawe shal forthë, [forthe R, forth H.] thogh it fille on me." Þe peple gan to rumble, & clappe & crye, And the consulës preyed of þe Citee The reuers; and [and R, om. H.] thus ouercome was he; Line 2756 So at the last he sye non othir wey, But in party he must hir lust obeye. Line 2758

(395)

¶ "Now," quod he, "sithen [sithen R, sen H.] it may be no bet, Line 2759 Sum what to yow, me conformë wol I, So þat þe lawë shal al noght be let, Thogh þat it myght obseruëd be fully: Thus wol I, and none othir truëly [truly H R.] : Line 2763 Oon of myne eyen wol I now for-go; Mi sone anoþir; it shal be riȝt so. Line 2765

(396)

¶ "We two wol hauë but o mannës sight." Line 2766 Thus was done [it done R.] ; but naght al at the plesaunce Of þe peple; but þei none othir myght. Now if to-morowe fil þer swich a chaunce, Shulde [Shulde R, Shul H.] men fyndë so iust gouernaunce? Line 2770 Nay, nay! þis londe is al to scarce & lyte, To fynde oon þat so iustly wolde hym quyte. Line 2772

[§ 4. ON OBSERVING OF THE LAWS.]

(397)

¶ Prince excellent, hauë your lawës chere; [folio 48a] [¶ De legum obseruacione.] Line 2773 Obserue hem, and offende hem by no wey! Bi oth to kepe it, bounde is þe powere Of kyng; and by it is kyngës nobley Sustenëd; lawe is bothë [bothe R, both H.] lokke and key Line 2777 Of suërtë; whil law is kept in londe, A prince in his estate may sikir stonde. Line 2779

Line 2779

(398)

¶ And doutëlesse, if þat fordone be [be R, by H.] lawe, Line 2780 A princes power may goo pley him þenne; ffor þei þat nought ne haue, with knyfe I-drawe, Wol on hem þat of good be myghty, renne, And hurt hem, and hir houses fire & brenne, Line 2784 And robbe and slee, and do al swich folye, Whan þer no lawe is, hem to iustifie. Line 2786

(399)

¶ Now in gode feith, I pray god it amende, Line 2787 Lawe is nye flemëd out of þis cuntre, ffor fewë be þat dreden it offende. Correccïoun and al is long on the: Whi soffrest þou so many an ássemble Line 2791 Of armëd folk? wel ny in euery shire, Partye is made to venge her cruel ire; Line 2793

(400)

¶ Thei, with her hande wrong, to hem done redresse; Hem deyneth naght an accioun attame At comun lawë: swich vnbuxumnesse Suffréd, vs makë wol of seuerte lame. Who-so may þis correct, is worthi blame Line 2798 Þat he ne doth naght. alasse! þis suffraunce Wol vs destroyë by continuance. Line 2800

(401)

¶ Is ther no lawë þis to remedie? [folio 48b] Line 2801 I can no morë; but, and this forth growe, This londe shal it repent and sore abye; And al such mayntenance, as men wel knowe, Sustenëd is naght by personës lowe, [lowe R, lawe H.] Line 2805 But Cobbes [cobbes R, great men, lords. Compare 'wattes,' l. 2816, p. 102.] gretë þis ryot sustene; Correct it, gode is, whil þat it is grene. Line 2807

Line 2807

(402)

¶ ffor, and it horë, þis lande is but lost; Line 2808 He þat our heede is, sore it shal repent; And this tamend, axith no gretter cost But to do lawe in no vengeáble entent, Seye I; but for þe better, hem take and hent, Line 2812 And punysshe hem by lawful riȝtwysenesse, And suffre naght ich othir þus to oppresse. Line 2814

(403)

¶ Smal tendirnesse is had now of our lawes; Line 2815 ffor if so be þat oon of þe grete wattes A dede do, which þat a-geyn þe lawe is, No thyng at al he punysshid for þat is; Riȝt as lop-webbys, flyës smale & gnattes [R has in margin, in another hand: "Unde Solon, unus de vij sapientibus. Lex est araníe tela, quia si incideret quid debíle, retinetur; grave autem pertransit, tela cissa.:"] Line 2819 Taken, and suffre gretë flyës go, ffor al þis worlde, lawe is now rewlyd so. Line 2821

(404)

¶ The riche and myghty man, thogh he trespace, Line 2822 No man seith onës þat blak is his eye; But to þe pore, is denyed al grace; He snybbyd is, and put to tormentrie; He naght a-stirtë [asterte R, astirt H.] may, he shal a-bye; Line 2826 He caught is in the webbe, & may naght twynne; Mochil gode reule is sowe, & spryngith thynne.

(405)

¶ Of þis groweth strifë, bataille, and discorde, [folio 49a] Line 2829 And by þe gretë, poër folk ben greuyd; ffor he þat noble is of blode, and a lorde [lord R, a lorde H.] In stile, and naght hath, sterid is, and meved Vnto rapynë; þis is often preuyd; Line 2833 Þe pore it felith. þus of lawë lak, [the lak R.] Norysshith wrong, and castith riȝt a-bak. Line 2835

Line 2835

(406)

¶ When a kyng doþ his peyne and diligence, Line 2836 His reme by lawë and reson to gye, He stondith morë in beneualence Of god, and more his werk shal fructifie, And shal haue gretter mede, it is no lye, Line 2840 Than þei þat swich a cure haue none on honde; Thus fynde I wretyn, as I vndirstonde. Line 2842

(407)

¶ Who-so þat in hye dignite is sette, Line 2843 And may do greuous wrong & cruelte, If he for-bere hem, to commend is bette, And gretter shal his mede and meryte be, Þen þei þat naght may kithe iniquite, Line 2847 Ne naght may done; for were sum man [for if sum man were H, for yf sum man were H.] of myght, Often wolde he do, grét harme and vnryght. Line 2849

(408)

¶ Hye dignite, the philosofre writeþ, [¶ Princi|patus virum ostendit.] Line 2850 Preueth a man, what he is in his dede. When þat a prince in vertu him delitith, Þen is his peple warisshëd of drede; Then may thei sey and syng alowde, & grede, Line 2854 "Honour, long lyfe, ioie, and cristës blyssyng, Mot haue oure sustenour, our prince & kyng!"

(409)

¶ Whan þat an Emperour in dayës olde [folio 49b] Line 2857 Corownëd was, aftir as blyue anone, [¶ In vita I hannis I lemosinani.] Makers of tounbës cum vnto him sholde, And ask him 'of what metal or what stone His toumbe shulde ben'; & forth þei gone, Line 2861 With swich deuyse as þe lorde list deuyse, And vp þei make it in her bestë [best H R.] wyse. Line 2863

Line 2863

(410)

¶ This was done, for to bring vnto [Thus was it done to bryng in R.] memórie Line 2864 That he was naght but a man córuptible, And þat þis worldis ioye is transitorie, And þe trust on it slippir and fallible; And þis considered, ought him be peynyble Line 2868 His remë wel for to gouerne and gye; ffor who so lyueþ wel, wel shal he dye. Line 2870

(411)

¶ Like a bridel is deþës rémembraunce, [¶ Ecclesias|tici vij^o Medi|tacio mortis est quasi frenum homi|nem refren|ans, ne ex|cerceat vltra. [vicia, &c. R.] ] Line 2871 Þat mannës hertë [hert H R.] réstreyneth fro vice. Þat kyng þat knyghtly [knyghtly R, knyght H.] is of gouernaunce, Þat is to seyn, [seyen H, sey R.] doþ iustly his office, Of loue and pes and rest he [he, om. H R.] is noryce; Line 2875 And whan þat he is out of þis worlde went, Thus seyn [seyen H, sey R.] men þat goon by his monument:

(412)

¶ "In heuen mote þis kyngës soulë rest! Line 2878 Þis is a worthy kyng, gret was þe pees Þat men had in his tyme, he was þe best That myght be; he kept his peple harmles; In ["In" is the first measure or foot.] his comyng, glad was al þe pres, Line 2882 And sory weren of his départyng." O, graciouse princë, swich be your wirkyng!

(413)

¶ Thus, my gode lorde, wynneth your peples voice; [folio 50a] [¶ Vox populi vox dei.] ffor peples vois is goddes voys, men seyne. And he þat for vs starf vpon þe croyse Shal white [quyte R.] it yow, I doute it noght certeyne; Your labour shal naght ydel be, ne veyne; Line 2889 "No goode dede vnrewardid is, or quytte; [¶ Nullum bo|num irremu|neratum. &c. [R adds: "nec malum impunitum.] ] Ne euyl vnpunysshid," seith holy writte. Line 2891

Line 2891

(414)

¶ In your prosperite and in your welthe, Line 2892 Remembreth euer a-monge, þat ye shul dye, And wot naght whan; it comeþ in a stelthe; Haue often him [him R, om. H.] by-fore your myndes ye; ffor whan no hertë [hert H R.] hydë may ne wrye Line 2896 His secre [secrete R.] thoughtës, god al wot & weyeth; Hym, loue & drede; and his lawës obeyeth. Line 2898

(415)

¶ Now sen a kyng is to his lawës swore, [¶ Quod elec|ciones sint in ecclesiis cathedralibus libere.] Line 2899 And lawë biddeth free elecïoun In chirches passe; my godë lorde, þer-fore, Let no fauour ne none affeccïoun So meeue your wysë circumspeccïoun, Line 2903 To lette hem [hem R, hym H.] of hir laweful liberte; Lat hem reioyse hir propre duëte. Line 2905

(416)

¶ The chapitre of a chirchë Cáthedral, Line 2906 When þei haue chosen hir heed & pastour, Which as hem thenkeþ sufficiant at al, Hem for to rewle, and ben hir gouernoure, Writeþ vnto þe pope in hir fauour, Line 2910 Bisekyng humble[l]y [humbly R.] his fadir-hede It to conferme; and þat is a iust dede. Line 2912

(417)

¶ And if the lawë suffre yow to write [folio 50b] Line 2913 ffor any man apart, herkenth now me; Let vertu þennë þerto yow excite; Lokith þat þe man haue abilite, Þat shal resseyuë þat hy [by H, hye R.] dignite, Line 2917 Þat is to seyn, he be clene of lyuyng, Discrete, iust, and of súffisant konnyng. Line 2919

Line 2919

(418)

¶ If þe pope to þat estate prouyde Line 2920 A persone, at your prayer and instaunce, Your sonde he takeþ to þe better syde; He holdeth þe persone of sufficïaunce To hauë swich a cure in gouernaunce, Line 2924 ffor so wittenessith [witnesseth R.] þe suggestioun Þat to hym made is for prouisïoun. [his promocioun R.] Line 2926

(419)

¶ To kynges letters, yeven is credence; Line 2927 Beth ware how þat ye wryte in swich matere, Lest þat ye hurt and maynë concïence. ffor if þat execute be your prayere, Þe persone vnworthy, ye shul ful dere Line 2931 Rewe it; no smal charche [charge R.] is the soulës cure Of al a diocise, I yow ensure. Line 2933

(420)

¶ Of swich writyng be of right súffrable, Line 2934 And þe man able, swich charge to resseyue, ffor whom ye writte, þat is comméndable; And ellës wol [elles wole R, els wol H.] it your soule deseyve. Help him þat able is [abl' is.] ; and tunhable [tunhable H, unable R. The t of "th' unable" after d, is Midland, like the "qwat" for "what," and "whyte" for "quyte" above.] weyue; Line 2938 Weyuë fauel with his polýsshïd speche; And help him þat wel doth, and wel can teche.

(421)

¶ But certes, fauel hath caght so sad foote [folio 51a] Line 2941 In lordës courtës, [courtes R, court H.] he may naght þens slyde; Who com or go, algate abyde he moote; His craft is to susteyne ay þe wrong syde, And fro vertu his lordë to devide; Line 2945 And, for soth [sothe R.] sawës ben to lordës lothe, Noght wol he soth seyn, he hath made his oth.

(422)

¶ Let fauel passë; foule mot he falle! [¶ Qualiter quidam miles in exilium se posuit, quia leges bonas per se factas [per eum editas R.] vellet obser|uari.] Line 2948 fforth in iusticë wol I now procede: Þer was a knyght, I not what men hym [hym R, hem H.] calle, A iuste man and a trewe in al his dede, Which on a tyme, as þought him it was nede, Line 2952 Þe froward peple by sharp lawës bynde; lawës ful iust he made, and in streyte [steyte R, sharp H.] kynde.

(423)

¶ And when þei weren byfore hem I-radde, [hem radde . . . madde R, him I-rad . . . mad H.] Line 2955 Þei [þe H, They R.] made hem wondir wroth, & seyden al Þei weren not so nycë ne so madde [hem radde . . . madde R, him I-rad . . . mad H.] To hem assent, for ought that [that R, om. H.] may befalle [befalle . . . thralle R, befal . . . thral H.] ; They wolden nat hem to þo lawës thralle, [befalle . . . thralle R, befal . . . thral H.] Line 2959 And wold han artyd þis knyght hem repele, Makyng ageyn him an [an R, and H.] haynous querele. Line 2961

(424)

¶ When he se þis, he blyuë to hem seyde: Line 2962 "I [I R, He H.] mad hem naght, it was god áppollo; And on my bak," quod he, "þe charge he leyde To kepe hem; sirës, what sey ye here-to? As he me chargid hath, riȝt so I do." Line 2966 And vnto þat, answerd anone þe prees, "We wol hem naght admitten doutëles." Line 2968

(425)

¶ "Wel," quod [koth R (as usual).] he, "þenne is gode, or ye hem breke, [folio 51b] That vnto god apollo I me dresse, To trete of þis matere, and with him speke,— With-owtyn him I may it naght redresse,— Biseche him wol I, [I R.] of his gentilnesse, Line 2973 Repele hem, [hem R, him H.] sen þat þei to streytë be, And do my deuer riȝt wel, ȝe shul see. Line 2975

Line 2975

(426)

¶ "But or I go, ye shul vnto me swere Line 2976 Þe lawës kepë til I agayn [ageyn R, gayn H.] come, And Breke hem naght;" to which þei gan answere, "Ȝee, ȝee, man, ȝee! we graunt it al and summe." Þei made her oth, and he his wey hath nomme. [some . . . nome R.] Line 2980 He nought to Apollo, but to grecë went, And þer abode tyl þat þe deþ him hent. Line 2982

(427)

¶ And whan his lastë daye [that his last day R, his last daye H.] gan to appere, Line 2983 He bad men þrowe his body in þe see, Lest vpon þe londe made were his bere, Þe peple myghten vn-to hir Citee His bonës cary, and at hir largë be Line 2987 Quyte of hir oth, as to hir iugëment; Thus he deuysid in his testament. Line 2989

(428)

¶ Syn I spoke haue of iustice, as ye knowe, Line 2990 Vnto pite—which mot ben had al-gatis, And namëly in princes ought it growe— Wol I me dressë: she opneþ the ȝates Of helth to him þat in sekenesse estate is; Line 2994 Sche esith many a wyght þat is distressid, Þat nere hir helpë [nere hir helpe R, neuer hir help H.] shulde be sore oppressid. Line 2996

[§ 5. DE PIETATE. [R. has in margin: "Scriptum est, Pietas est ex benigne mentis dulcedine grata omnibus auxiliatrix."] ]

(429)

Pitee, naght ellës is, to vndirstonde, [This page has an illuminated initial letter, which extends from the top to the bottom, and a heading as above.—G. England.] [folio 52a] Line 2997 But good wille inward of debónair hert, And outhewarde [outward R.] spech, and werk of man, to fonde To help him þat men sen in meschif smert. Men selde [selde R, selden H.] him seen in-to wykkýd deþ stert,

Þat pitous is; but þei han cruel deþ Often whos cruelte cruelly sleth. [sleth R, fleth H.] Line 3003

(430)

Whilom þer was a tyraunt dispitouse, [¶ Refert Ho|rosius quali|ter quidam artifex subti|lis puniebatur per artem propriam.] Line 3004 Þat so delited him in cruelte, Þat of no þing was he so désirous. Now shope it so, a man þat to pyte ffo was, and frende vnto iniquite, Line 3008 A sotel werkeman in craft of metal, Wrought in þis wyse as I yow tellë [telle R, tel H.] shal. Line 3010

(431)

His lorde þe king he þoughtë [þought H, thought to R.] plese and glade, [R. has in margin: "Nota, de crudel, itate cujusdam artificis subtilis, et qualiter per artem suam propriam puniebatur; et hoc refert Horosius."] Line 3011 And craftëly he made a bol [craftely . . . bole R (bull), craftly . . . bol H.] of bras, And in þe syde of it he slily made A litel wyket, þat ordeynëd was To réceyue hem þat stode in deþës case, Line 3015 Vndir þe which men shulden sharpe fire make, Tho folk to deþë [dethe R, deþ H.] for to brenne & bake. Line 3017

(432)

And ȝit more-ouer, þe kyng for to meve Line 3018 The lesse vnto pitee, it made was so By sotil art [craft R.] þe dampnëd folk to greve Þat whan to crye, hem cómpellyd [compelled hem R.] hir woo, Hir woys was lyke a bolës euer-mo, Line 3022 And nothyng lyke a mannys voise in soun, As þe scripturë maketh mencïoun. Line 3024

(433)

¶ But our lord god, of pite þe auctour, [folio 52b] Line 3025 Displesid with þis cruel ordinaunce, Swich rewarde shape vnto this [this R, his H.] losengeour, Þat it abatid al his countenaunce; And for to preue his fendely purueaunce, Line 3029 How sharp it was, & coudë folk distreyne, The first he was þat entryd in þat peyne. Line 3031

Line 3031

(434)

¶ ffor whan þe kyng, his cruel werk had seyne, Line 3032 Þe craft of it commendith he ful wele; But þe entent he fully helde a-gayne, And seydë, "þou þat art morë cruel Than I, þe maydenhede of this Iuel Line 3036 Shalt preue anone; þis is my Iugëment." And so as blyue he was þer-in I-brent. Line 3038

(435)

¶ Men may sen here, how fauel hym enclyneth Line 3039 Ay to his lordys lust, what so it be; [¶ Contra blanditores.] Vnto þat ende he bysieth hym and clynyth, [pyneth R.] And no consideracïoun hath he, Thogh it be harmë to his lordys degre, Line 3043 Or a-geyn feith, honour, or concïence; In fals plesaunce is al his diligence. Line 3045

(436)

¶ To what þing it be, if it his lorde lyke, Line 3046 He him conformyth; he neuer denyeth His lordës resouns, but a þank to pike, His lordys wil and witte he iustifieth; Whil fauel liueþ, no fals conseil dieth; Line 3050 ffauel is wedded to plesaunt deseyt, And in þat wedlok trewe is his conceite. Line 3052

(437)

¶ Grounde of treson, o þou cursyd [cruell R.] fauel! [folio 53a] Line 3053 How longë [longe R, long H.] shalt þou be a potestate? In lordës courtes þou pleyest [courtes . . . curt . . . pleyest R, pleyst H.] þi parcel, So þat it strecchith to þi lordys mate; ffor þu hast neuer þi lordys estate Line 3057 To hertë [hert H R.] chere, but al þi bysynesse Is for þi lucre, and þi cofres warmnesse. Line 3059

Line 3059

(438)

¶ ffauel was neuer frendly, man vnto; [¶ Dicit Sene|ca de qui|busdam qui Neronem sequebantur. Mel musce se|quuntur, [sequuntur R, sequitur H.] ca|dauera lupi; predam se|quitur ista turba non hominem.] Line 3060 lordës, beth ware! it nedith trewëlye. [trewlye H, truly R.] Senek, by hem þat folweden Nero, Seith þus, "a fflyë folweþ the honye; Þe wolf, careyn," he seith; so, wel wot I Line 3064 Þat companyë folweden her pray, And naght þe man; & so do men þis day. Line 3066

(439)

¶ Whil þat þe swetnesse of riches endurith, Line 3067 Vnto þe riche is manny man plesaunt; Only þe richessë þer-to hem lurith; What he comaundiþ, þei ben obysaunt [obedient R.] To do, whil þat he of goode is habundaunt; Line 3071 But whan þe pray, þe ricchesse, is a-goo, The man forsaken þei for euermo. Line 3073

(440)

¶ O ffauel! a blynde marchant art þou oone, [¶ Ieronimus. Adulator secus est qui pro questu vel gracia transitoria sua & alteri|us animam interficit.] Line 3074 That, for wordly goode, & grace and fauoure,— Which faylë shal & passe, and ouer goone, [passe in ouer goone H, faile and ouercome H.] — Swich diligencë dost, and swich laboure, Þat þou þi soulë fro our saueoure Line 3078 Twynnest, and slest þi lordis soule also, And causyst hem to peyne eternal go. Line 3080

(441)

¶ Þer is a long and a large difference [folio 53b] Line 3081 Twix vertuous plesaunce and flaterie: Good plesaunce is of swich beneuolence, Þat what gode dede he may in man espie, He preysith it, and rébukith folye; Line 3085 But fauel takeþ al on othir parte; In wrong preysyng is al his craft and arte. Line 3087

Line 3087

(442)

¶ A gloser also kepith his silence [¶ Hugo de sancto vic|tore. Adu|lator est ille qui tacet & dat consen|sum ne offendat quem optat [optat R, ortat H.] habere pro|picium.] Line 3088 Often, where he his lord seeth [seeth R, seith H.] him mystake. Lest þat his answere myghtë [myght H R.] done offence Vn-to his lorde, and him displesyd make, He holt his pees; nat a worde dare he crake; Line 3092 And for he naght ne seith, he his [his R, is H.] assent Ȝeueþ [Yeveth R, þen H.] þerto, by mannës Iugëment. Line 3094

(443)

¶ Who-so þat wot þe purpose of a wyght, [¶ Qui tacet, &c.] Line 3095 Þat is agroundid vppon wykydnesse, And noght ne lettith it, vnto his myght, ffauorith it, as þe boke can expresse; [¶ Canonum xxiij. q. iij. capitulo. Qui potest.] Who-so it [it R, om. H.] lokith, fynde it shal no lesse. Line 3099 But of al þis now make I here an ende, And to my tale of pite wol I wende. Line 3101

(444)

¶ A Princë mot be of condicioun Line 3102 Pitouse, and his angir refreyne, & ire, [¶ Aristoteles, in principum regimine, capitulo de Regis proui|dencia.] Lest þat [þat, om. H R.] vnavisid commocioun Hym chaufë so, & sette his hert on fire, That hym to wenge [venge R.] as blyuë he desire, Line 3106 And fulfille it in dede: hym owyþ knowe. His errour, and [and R, an H.] qwenche þat firy lowe. [folio 54a] Line 3108

(445)

¶ Aristotle amonestith wonder faste, Line 3109 In his book whiche to Alisaundre he wroot, If he wolde haue his regne endure and laste, That for non ire he neuere be soo hoot, Blood of man [of man to R, of a man H.] schede; and god seith, wel I woot, [¶ Michi vindictam. (R. adds: Item, Qui gladio per|cutit, &c.)] That vnto hym reseruëd is vengeaunce; Line 3114 Who-so þat sleþ, schal haue þe samë chaunce.

(446)

¶ But this noght ment is by þe cours of lawe, Line 3116 That put a man to deth for cryme horrible. Whan he a man y-murdred haþ and slawe, A man to sle by lawe, it is lisible; That slaughtre beforn god is ádmittible, [¶ ffacilitas venie incen|tiuum pre|bet delin|quendi.] Line 3120 And if a kyng do swichë murdrers grace Of lyf, he boldeþ hem eft to trespace. [trespace R, strepace H.] Line 3122

(447)

¶ kyng of þis lond whilom, herde I seyn, [¶ Nota con|tra conces|siones carta|rum pardo|nacionum de murdris.] Line 3123 ffor mannës deth a pardoun hadde e-graunted [be graunted R.] Vnto a man, whiche afterward ageyn The samë gilt hadde in an othir haunted; Aftir whos deth, he homly haþ avaunted Line 3127 He nas naght so frendlés, he woldë do Wel y-now thogh he hadde slayn othir two. Line 3129

(448)

¶ "Of frendes," quod he, "haue I largë wone, Line 3130 That, for þat they haue had, and schul, of myne, Byforne þe kyng for me schal knele echone; They at þe fullë kunne his hertë myne; Thidir wil I goo, streght as any lyne, Line 3134 And þey þat now annoyen me or greue, I schal hem qwite here-aftir, as I leue." [folio 54b] Line 3136

(449)

¶ He cam vnto þe kyng, and axid grace Line 3137 Of þat he wroghtë hadde [wrought hade R.] so synfully. The kyng auysëd hym wel on his face, And seydë, "frend, me þynketh how þat I Haue vnto þe doon grace or þis, soothly; Line 3141 I graunted onës a chartre to þe Of mannës deth, as it remembreth me. Line 3143

Line 3143

(450)

¶ "Hast þou now slayn an othir man also?" Line 3144 Now stood a foolë [foole R, fool H.] sage þe kyng byside; And or þe kyng spak any wordës moo, He to hym seidë, "[Now,] for god þat dyde, Whi demen ye þis man an homicide? Line 3148 He slow hym naght, for ye your self [self R, om. H (with a later 'selfe' overline).] hym slow, And, by your leuen, [leve R.] I schal tellen how: Line 3150

(451)

¶ "If þat þe lawë myghte his cours han had, Line 3151 This man here hadde ben, for þe firste man, deed; fforyeue hym now; and yif þat [þat, om. H R.] he be drad To slee þe thriddë, þan girde of myn heed. Now be avisëd wel; it is my reed, Line 3155 How ye your pardoun grauntë, leste errour Of nycë pitee be your áccusour." Line 3157

(452)

¶ This kyng wel þoughtë þat he seide hym trouthe, And chartirles gooþ þis man ful of drede; And aftirward, of whos dissert was routhe, The lawe hym yaf þat longëd to his mede. My tale is doon; now sooþly it is nede Line 3162 To grauntës to wiþstondë, þat procure Meschévous deth to many a crëature. [folio 55a] Line 3164

(453)

¶ Pitee auailith mochil, but naght þere; Line 3165 ffor bet it is to sle þe mordreman, Than suffre hym regnë, for he haþ no fere His hand to vsë forth as he by-gan; And in my cónceit, feelë wel I can, Line 3169 That of suche pitee, is þe abstinence Of gretter pite, for þe consequence. Line 3171

Line 3171

(454)

¶ If right-ful deth of oo man, kepe and saue Line 3172 Two innocentës lyuës, þinkeþ me By resoun morë merit oghte hym haue That cómandith his [this R.] gylty man deed be, Than he þat lif hym graunteþ: why lat se, Line 3176 The gylty man is no wrong doon vnto, But wrong is doon vnto [vnto R, to H.] thise othir two. Line 3178

(455)

¶ Euery man woot wel, fór to saue tweyne Line 3179 Is gretter gracë þan to [to R, om. H.] saue but on. Of murdre, is cause gret for to [grete to R.] compleyne; Tho pardons alle to lyghtly passe and goon; Auyse hem þat fauoúre hem, by seynt Iohn; Line 3183 Who so it be that þerto þe kyng meeveth, Wel morë þan he woot, his soulë greeveth. Line 3185

(456)

¶ Avise a kyng eek, for any requeste Line 3186 Vnto hym maad, by greet estat or mene, That he fauoúre it noght; it is þe beste Tho réquestës to werne and voydë clene, Of swiche in sothe as murdrers ben, I mene; Line 3190 But and [and, an, if.] on be by malice of his foos Endited, pardoun be to hym noght cloos. [folio 55b] Line 3192

(457)

¶ If þat be sooth, lat pitee walk at large, Line 3193 ffor sche and mercy þerto wil assente; It is a parcel of hir either charge; Routhë were it þe giltëles turmente; Pitee schal soul of man to god presente, Line 3197 And god, þat yaf vs ensample of pitee, To pitous folk sauacïoun schal be. Line 3199

Line 3199

(458)

¶ The pitous herte of Marcus Marcellus Line 3200 Wele worthy is, be drawen in memórie; [¶ De pietate Marci Mar|celli.] He may ensample and mirrour be to vs; ffor, as Valerie writith in a storie, Whan þis Marc obtened hadde [opteynede R (? hadde obtened).] þe victórie Line 3204 By segë leyde to men of siracuse, As I schal seyn, he heuyly gan [gan R, om. H.] muse. Line 3206

(459)

¶ He wente hym vp on hy vppon a toure, [tree R.] Line 3207 Where he byholdë myghte al þe citee, And how fortune hadde schape hym þat honoure. [that he did see R.] With hertë tendre than considered he, And hadde of folkës dethës suche pitee, Line 3211 That from wepynge he myghte hym not restreyne; Al his tryumphë was to hym but peyne. Line 3213

(460)

¶ Who-so hadde stonden by hym in þat tyde, Line 3214 And hym avisëd on his contenaunce, Wolde han supposëd that þat othir side Rathir hadde I-putte hym to þe outraunce, Than he hadde had of hem so fair a chaunce: Line 3218 O worthy knyght! who schal þi steppës sue? Thi súccessour halt hym to longe in mue. [folio 56a] Line 3220

(461)

¶ O citee! syn fortune was contrarie Line 3221 To the in o part, yit hir gentilnesse Purveyëd þe a bénigne aduersarie. Thanke hir of þat, for thy disese is lesse, ffalle in þe daunger of lambës humblesse, Line 3225 Than he with cruel woluës al to-frete; A lamb is naght so gredy on hir mete. Line 3227

Line 3227

(462)

¶ Ther nys no þing, as witnessith a [the R.] storie, Line 3228 Makyth a knyght so schynynge in renoun, Whan þat he of his foos hath þe victórie, As rew on hym þat throwen is a-doun, And of his blode eschue effusioun. Line 3232 A bestes kynde is, þat is wilde and wood, Victórie naght desire, but þe blood. [R. has in margin: Scriptum est, Ferarum genus est non victoriam sed sanguinem sitire.] Line 3234

(463)

¶ Also, whan þat þe kyng of hermenye [¶ De pietate [benignitate & pietate R.] pompei.] Line 3235 Venquysshet was in batayle by pompeye, This kyng fel doun vnto his foot in hye, And from hym caste his dyademe aweye; But pompeyus, as blyue, of his nobleye Line 3239 Stirte vnto hym, and vp hym lifte & hente, And many a word benigne on hym dispente. Line 3241

(464)

¶ He dide his myght hym to conforte and qweeme; And right anon, with-oute any delay, Vpon his heed bad sette his dyademe Ageyn; and so [so R, om. H.] was doon, it is no nay. Whan Cesar, emperour, eek on a day [¶ De pietate cesaris im|peratoris.] Line 3246 Pompeyë saw biforn hym lad & bounde, Cesar in terës saltë gan habounde. [abounde R, hobunde H.] Line 3248

(465)

¶ Whan Alisaundre eek, as Vallerie haþ told, [folio 56b] [¶ De pietate Alexandri.] Line 3249 Was, in a tyme, in þe feld wiþ his host, An agëd knyght of his, for verray cold, His lyfly myght he loren hadde al-moost, So greuous tempest tho fil in þat coost; Line 3253 And whan þis worþy kyng þis hadde aspied, Out of his see he roos, and to hym hied, Line 3255

Line 3255

(466)

¶ And by the hand þis oldë knyght he took, Line 3256 Confortynge hym [right] in his ¹beste manere, And ledde hym to his¹ [1_1 best manere And ledde hym vnto his R, om. H.] tente, as seith þe book, And in [in R, om. H.] his real seege and his chaiere As blyue hym settë: þus may kyngës leere, Line 3260 Distressëd knyghtes to helpë and releeue: To take ensample of þis, it schal noght greue.

(467)

¶ What wonder was it, thogh þat knyghtës tho Line 3263 Desirëden so noble princë serue, Syn þat hym leuer was for to for-go His dignite, and hir helþë [helthe to R.] conserue, Than his estat keepe, and hym suffre sterue? Line 3267 Yit hoope I seen his heir in þis prouince; And þat schal ye be, my good lord þe prince. Line 3269

(468)

¶ Before a iuge, eek in poynt to be deed, Line 3270 Of Iulïus Cesar þer was a knyght, [¶ De Pietate Iulii Cesaris.] Whiche, wiþ an hye voys, for to saue his heed, To his lord Cesar cryde a-lowdë ryght, By-sechynge hym þat, of his gracious myght, Line 3274 He wolde hym helpe and rew [rewe R.] on his estat; And Cesar sente hym a good aduocat. [folio 57a] Line 3276

(469)

¶ And vnto þat, þis knyght as blyuë þus Line 3277 On heightë wel, þat al þe peple it herde, With manly cheerë spak to Iulius, His lorde, and in þis wisë hym answerde:— "Han ye for-gote how scharp it wiþ yow ferde, Line 3281 Whan ye were in þe werrës of asie? Maffeith! your lif stood þere in iupartie; Line 3283

Line 3283

(470)

¶ "And aduocat ne sente I non to yow, Line 3284 But my-self put in prees, & for yow faght; My woundës beren good witnesse y-now That I sooth seye; and, lest ye leeue it naght, I schal yow schewe what harmë haue I [I haue R.] caght, Line 3288 The doute out of youre hertë for to dryue." He nakid hym, and schewëd hym as blyue. Line 3290

(471)

¶ Of whiche, Cesar ful sorë was aschamed, Line 3291 And in his hertë sorwe made, and moone; He heeld hym selfen worthy to be blamed. "My freend," [frend R, feend H.] he seidë, "let me now allone; Aduócat wole I be in my persone Line 3295 ffor þe; I am wel holden to do soo." And þus, þis knyght, his deth he saued fro. Line 3297

(472)

¶ He dredde hym, if he naddë þus y-wroght Line 3298 The peple hym wolde han [wolde hym haue R.] for a proude man deemed, And vngentil, and þat he cowdë noght, As that it scholde eeke haue vnto hym seemed, Thanke hem þat worþy [worthy R, worþ H.] werë to be qwemed; Line 3302 "What princë," quoth he, "peyneth hym naght wynne His knyghtës [knyghtes R, knyghes H.] loue, his loue is to hem þynne." [folio 57b]

(473)

¶ Out of pitee, growith mercy and springiþ, Line 3305 ffor piteelés man cán do no mercy; What prince hem lakkith, naght aright he kyngeth; And, for þat þei ben neghëboures so nygh, To pitee, mercy ioynë now wole I. Line 3309 Excellent prince haue in hem good sauour, And ellës al in waast [all in veyne R, in waast H.] is your labour. Line 3311

[§ 6.] ¶ De Misericordia. [¶ Angustinus dicit, quod misericordia est aliene mi|serie ex corde vera com|passio, & hec vertus con|sistit in duo|bus, scilicet, dando & dimittendo.]

(474)

Mercy, aftir þe worde of seynt Austyn, [This page has an illuminated border and initial.] Line 3312 Of herte is a verray compassïoun Of othir menys harm, and þat comth yn By gyfte of god, and by remissïoun; As, if [if R, of H.] iniúrie or oppressioun Line 3316 Be doon to vs, þat gilt for-yeue vs oghte, ffor loue of crist, þat, by deth, our lif boghte. Line 3318

(475) [¶ Matthaei vij^o. Qui enim dimittit iniuriam, & si peccauerit ipse, dimit|tetur ei. ¶ Vnde domi|nus in euan|gelio: Date & dabitur vo|bis; dimitte & dimitetur vobis; sed qui dimittit & non dat, & si plene non operatus est, eam meliorem tamen par|tem tenet misericordie. ¶ Ambrosius. Quis fidelis sit, sobrius & castus & aliis vertuti|bus oneratus, si tamen mis|ericors non est miseri|cordiam non meritur. Di|cit enim Apos|tolus lacobus ij^o. Iudicium sine miseri|cordia illi qui non facit misericor|diam.]

Who-so, wronge to hym doön, wole for-yeue, Line 3319 His synnë schal to hym for-yeuen be; Thogh þat he no þing of his goodës yeue, The better part yit of mercy halt he; Thus fynde I writen of auctorite: Line 3323 but fully may þere no man do mercy, But if þat he releuë þe nedy. [R. has the lines of this stanza wrong: 3319, 3324-5, 3320-1.] Line 3325

(476)

Thogh þat a man be sobre, chaast, & trewe, Line 3326 And be wiþ many an hy vertu endowëd, And yeue, and naght for-yeue, it schal hym rewe: Where as oure werkes mostë ben avowëd, [folio 58a] The vnmerciáble schal be disallowëd: Line 3330 Who naght forȝeueth, mercy dooth he non; And mercyles man, mercy schal for-gon. Line 3332

(477)

¶ Mercy, crist causëd to ben incarnate, Line 3333 And humbled hym to take oure breþerhede. God in-mortel, rewynge oure seek estate, Mortel be-cam, to purge oure synful dede; Hym lothid naght his precious body sprede Line 3337 Vpon þe croys, this lord benyngne and good; He wroot oure chartre of mercy with his blood.

(478)

¶ Of hym, his handwerk and his crëature, Line 3340 ffor to be merciable, aright may lerne; This lyf present schul but a whilë dure, And lastynge it, your mercy naght ne werne, O worthy princë, for to god eterne Line 3344 It ful plesant is; dooth your mercy here; ffor to late is, aftir ye goo to beere. Line 3346

(479)

¶ Take hede, excéllent prince, of your graunt-syre, [¶ De miseri|cordia Iohan|nis ducis lancastrie, (cuius anime propicietur deus!) & de misericordia domini nostri Regis hen|rici, filii sui.] How in his werkës he was merciáble; He þat for mercy dydë, qwyte his hire! He neuere was, in al his lyf, vengeáble, But ay for-yaf the gylty and coupáble. Line 3351 Our ligë lord your fadir, dith [doth R.] þe same; Now folwe hem two, my lord, in goddis name!

(480)

¶ They often haddë gret cause hem to venge, Line 3354 But hir spiritis bénigne and pesible Thoghten þat craft vnlusty and alenge, And fórbaar it; þei knewe it vnlisible. [folio 58b] To mercy were hir hertës ay flexible; Line 3358 ffor-why with mercy god schal qwyte hem wel, Aftir þe wordës write in þe gospell. [¶ Beati misericordes &c.] Line 3360

(481)

¶ It is to leue and deme, if a kyng schyne Line 3361 In vertu, þat his sonë schuldë sue, And to his fadris manerës enclyne, And wykked teichës and vices eschue: Thus oghte it be, this to natúre is due. Line 3365 He mot considre of whom he took hys kynde, And folwe his vertu, as men writen fynde. Line 3367

Line 3367

(482)

¶ He moost is like to god, as seith Bernard, [¶ Ait beatus Bernardus, 'Ille maxime deum imitat, qui nichil iudicauerit preciosius quam mise|reri.'] Line 3368 Þat holdeth no þing morë precious Than to be merciful; it is ful hard To lakkë mercy and ben vnpitous. "Mercy wole I," seith oure lord glorious; [¶ Matthaei. ij. clamauit deus, miseri|cordiam volo; qui quod vult deus, deo negat, a deo sibi quod desiderat, vult negari.] Line 3372 He þat denyeth god, þát he wolde haue, God nayte [nay R.] hym schal, þat he wil axe or craue.

(483)

¶ Senek seith how þe kyng and þe ledere [[R, om. H] Seneca dicit, quod rex apium om|nino sine aculeo est; voluit enim natura nec seuum esse, nec ulcionum expetere.] Line 3375 Of bees is prikkëles; he haþ right non Wherwith to styngen, or annoye, or dere; But othir bees, prikkës [prikles R.] han euerichon; Natúrë woldë sche schulde it [hir R.] for-goon, Line 3379 And do no cruelte vnto þe swarm, But mekely hem gouerne, & do non harm. Line 3381

(484)

¶ Of þis, ensample schuldë kyngës take, Line 3382 And princes, þat han peple for to gye; ffor to hem longith it, for goddës sake, To wayuë cruelte and tyrannye, [folio 59a] And to pitee, hir hertës bowe & wrye, Line 3386 And reule hir peple esily and faire: It is kyngly, be meeke and debonaire. Line 3388

(485)

¶ I rede of á kyng, þat Pirus was named, [¶ De miti animo [De misericordia R.] Regis Piri.] Line 3389 Whan hym was tolde, how þat men of Tarente Hadde, at a festë, his estat diffamed, He for þe samë folkës blyuë sente; And whan þey cam, axid to what entente Line 3393 They of hym spak so, and so foulë ferde; And oon of hem, as ye schulle here, answerde: [answerde R, answere H.]

(486)

¶ "My lord, if þat þe wyne noght faillëd hadde, Line 3396 Al þat we spak, nerë but game and play, Hauynge rewardë [rewarde R, reward H.] to þe wordës badde That we thoghte haue I-spoken in good fay." The kyng took a laghtre, and wente his way, Line 3400 And of al þat, he heeld hem [hem R, hym H.] ful excused: He seide it wás wyne, þat so hem accused. Line 3402

(487)

¶ Wengeance, in þis good lord, haddë no stide; Line 3403 Mercy and humble disposicïoun Dispensid [Dispendede he R.] with tho men, and grace hem dide, And thriste vndír foote cruelte adoun. O myghty princë! this condicïoun Line 3407 To your highnessë is ful ácordant, And vnto god al-myghty ryght plesant. Line 3409

(488)

¶ Power withouten mercy, a kyng tourneth [¶ Potestas sine miseri|cordia vertit Regem in tirannum: ita scriptum est.] Line 3410 Into a tyraunt, war þat feendly spek! ffor in what man þat cruelte soiourneth, Vnto his soule it is an odious spek. [folio 59b] Tho men of god han nouthir look ne bek, Line 3414 But if þat it be bekkës of manace, Where as his [his R, is H.] mercy folweþ mochë grace. Line 3416

(489)

¶ Salomon in his prouerbis expressith, [¶ Prouerbi|arum capitu|lo xx^o. Misericordia & veritas Regem cus|todiunt; & roboratur clemencia thronus eius.] Line 3417 'Mercy and trouthë, [trouthe R, trouche H.] wardeynes ben of kyngës; And with iustice also,' as he witnéssith, 'His trone is strengþed:' what man þat a kyng is, But if þat he, amongis oþir thyngës, Line 3421 Endowëd he wiþ allë þisë thre, Men seyn he halteth in his hyge [hye R.] degre. Line 3423

Line 3423

(490)

¶ A noble and glorious kynde of vengeance [signe of mercy R.] is, Line 3424 A knyght to spare, whan þat he sleë may. Ther was a duc callid pisistaris, [¶ De miseri|cordia ducis Pisistaris.] Þat a yong doghtir haddë, a fair [faire R.] may, Whiche with hir modir walkid on a day— Line 3428 Naght seith the book whider, ne what to done, But þus it schoop, as I schal tellë sone. Line 3430

(491)

¶ A yong, fresche, lusty, wel by-seyën man Line 3431 So brente in loue, he wentë for to dye, Rauyssht of þe beauté of þis womman, This tendir [tendre R, tedir H.] yong morsel, þis doghter, I seye. And as þis yong man mette hir in þe weye, Line 3435 He at a leep was at hir, and hir kyste: The modir, angry wood, whan sche it wiste, Line 3437

(492)

¶ Sche right [right R, righ H.] anon hir lord, þe duc, be-soghte [besought R, be-soghe H.] Line 3438 To putte hym to þe deth for his trespas. He seydë nay; to do þat neuere he þoghte: "Schulle [Shulde R, Schullen H.] we sleen hem þat louen vs? allas! [folio 60a] What schuld we þanne in the contrárie cas, Line 3442 That is to seyn, do [done to R, to do H.] to our enemys?" Thus seide þis duc, mercïable and wys. Line 3444

(493)

Allas! whi was þis womman so vengeáble? Line 3445 Certes, in þat sche lakked wommanhede. This louer hadde ben deede, it is no fable, If þis duc hadde ben like [like R, om. H.] to hir in dede; But mercy hym for-bad, any blood schede; Line 3449 Sche and pitee weren of oon accord, And senten pacïence vnto þis lord. Line 3451

Line 3451

(494)

And for as mochil as þat pacïence Line 3452 To mercy as in lyne of blood atteyneth, Now wole I do my payne and diligence, To telle how hir benignyte restreyneth The feruent hetë þat þe hertë pyneth Line 3456 Wrechë cruel to take, and scharp vengeaunce, Of þat þe herte of man felith greuaunce. Line 3458

[§ 7.] ¶ De Paciencia.

(495)

Gregórie seith, pacïencë verray [This page is illuminated with an initial G, and a scroll work border on three sides.—G. England.] [¶ Gregorius dicit, paci|encia vera est, aliena mala equanimiter pati, & contra eum qui mala irrogat, nullo dolore mori. ¶ Socrates dicit, Nemo bene sapiens est qui paci|enciam non habet; viri enim boni est scire [scire R, fore H.] pati &c.] Line 3459 Is, of harm doon to man, softë souffraunce, And naght be wrooth, by no manere of way, With hym þat hath y-doon a man nusance. Socrates seith, no mannës gouernance Line 3463 Is wys, but it be by suffrancë preeued; A good man souffrith wrong, and is not greued.

(496)

¶ The kynde of pacïence is to sustene [folio 60b] Line 3466 Myghtily wrongës, and hem neuere wreke, But hem for-yeue, and wratthe & irous tene Out of þe hertë for to spere and steke. Hir kynde is noght to lete a word out breke, Line 3470 That harmful is; for hertë voyde of ire Hath naght wherwith to sette a tonge afire. Line 3472

(497)

¶ O pacïent, o humble kyng benyngne! Line 3473 O kyng Dauid! þi pacïent meeknesse Naght meeued was ageyn Semey maligne, Whos hy malice and crabbid wikkidnesse Yaf greet enchesoun to thy worthynesse Line 3477 To vengë the; but þi benyngnite ffor-bad þyn hand to kythë cruelte. Line 3479

Line 3479

(498)

¶ As this kyng onës cam to bahurim, [¶ Regum 2^o. Capitulo 16. Venit ergo Rex Dauid vsque bahu|rim & ecce egrediebatur &c.] Line 3480 Out cam þis man, malicïous Semey, Sone of Gera, and swiche despite dide hym And to his men, as by hym wenten they, Castyngë stonës vnto hym alwey, Line 3484 That wondir was; for which, on Abusay [¶ Dixit au|tem Abusay filius Saruie: Quare male|dicit canis iste? &c. Vadam & am|putabo [ca|put ejus R], ¶ Et ait Rex: 'dimitte eum vt maledicit juxta precep|tum domini. Si forte respi|ciat dominus affliccionem meam, & reddet [reddet R, reddit H.] mihi bonum pro malediccione hac hodierna &c.] Wolde haue hym slayn; but þe kyng seidë, "nay!

(499)

¶ "Lat hym curse, aftir þe comaundëment Line 3487 Of god; whan he seeth myn affliccïoun, And my disese, and my grevous turment, He wole, for þis dayës malicïoun, Par áventurë, do me som guerdoun." Line 3491 Thus vndirstonde I, write is in þe bible, Whiche is a book autentik and credible. Line 3493

(500)

¶ The paciënce of Iob, men may nat hyde, [folio 61a] [¶ De pacien|cia Regis Alexandri.] Line 3494 The comoun voys wole algate it by-wreye; And Alisaundre, whos fame is sprad ful wyde, fful pacïent was, as þe bookës seye. A sad wys knyght of his with lokkës greye, Line 3498 Grucchynge ageyn his fleschely lustës, seide Vnto his lord, and þus he hym vp breyde: Line 3500

(501)

¶ "O Alisaundre! it is vncouenable, Line 3501 The for to haue of peple regyment, Syn þi lust, bestial and miserable, Hath qweynt thy resoun and entendëment So ferforth, þat the hetë violent Line 3505 Of leccherye is in þe, lord and sire; Repreef, I dredë, qwytë schal þin hire. Line 3507

Line 3507

(502)

¶ "ffy! schamëles vnworthy gouernour!" Line 3508 And whan þe knyghtës talë was al endid, The kyng answerde, "I knowë myn errour;" And pacïently seide, "I haue offendid; I woot it wel; and it schal be amendid." Line 3512 A man also to Iulius Cesar onës [¶ De pacien|cia Iulii Cesaris.] Crabbidly seid, and schrewdly [sharply R.] for þe nonës, Line 3514

(503)

¶ And among othir wordës þat he speek, Line 3515 "Iulius," quod he, "make it noght so tow, [tough R (rymes: ynough, hough)] ffor of thy birthe art þou noght wort a leek: Whens þat þou cam, men knowen wel I-now: Wenest þou naght þat [that R, þan H.] I can tellen how Line 3519 Thy fadir was a bakere? o, lat be! Ne make it nat so qweyntë, I pray the!" Line 3521

(504)

¶ Smylynge, vnto hym spak þis Emperour: [folio 61b] Line 3522 "Whethir supposist þou bet, þat noblesse Begynne in me, or noblesse and honour Deffaile in þe?" this questïoun, I gesse, Was, in swiche cas, but answer of softnesse; Line 3526 ffor þat was seide in repreef of his name, His pacïence, as who [who R, swo H.] seith, took [took it R.] in game. Line 3528

(505)

¶ To þe chiualrous worþy [Chyualerous worthy R, chiualours worþ H.] Scipio [¶ De Pacien|cia Scipionis affricani bel|licosissimi.] Line 3529 Of Aufrik, also speek onës a wight, And seide, "in armës durste he but smal do; He faght but smal whan he cam to þe fight." And paciently answerde he anon right, Line 3533 "My modir me bare, a childe feeble and smal, And forth me broghte, and no fightere at al." Line 3535

Line 3535

(506)

¶ Senek seith, how þe kyng Antigone Line 3536 Herde onës folk speke of hym wikkedly, [¶ De benig|nitate [&] paciencia Regis Anti|gone.] ffor ther nas [nas R, nat H.] but a curtyn, as seith he, Twixt hym and hem; and whan hys tyme he sy, Aside he drow the curtyn sodenly, Line 3540 And seidë, "gooth hens, lest þe kyng yow here, ffor þe curtyn haþ herde al your matere." Line 3542

(507)

¶ Of duc Pisistaris eek wil I telle: Line 3543 He hadde a freend, arispus was his name, [¶ De pacien|cia & miseri|cordia ducis pisistaris supra nomi|nati.] Whiche onës hastily, with wordës felle Rebukid so þis duc, þat it was schame To heren it; and yit, with sorwe and grame, Line 3547 He in despyt spette in þis dukës face; And he þerto no word spak in þat place. Line 3549

(508)

¶ He had him so in port & word and chere, [folio 62a] Line 3550 Ryght as hym hadde be do no vilenye, But luked forth in a freendely manere. Now ther were in this dukës companye His sonës two, that busked hem in hye Line 3554 To this Arispus, and wolden ful [full R, su H.] fayn, Nad hir fadir hem let, haue hym Islayn. Line 3556

(509)

¶ The nextë day after, this Arispus Line 3557 To takë gan consideracïoun How that he to þe duke mys-bare hym thus, And madë morë waymentacïoun Than I can make of nominacioun [now mensioun R.] ; Line 3561 He wolde han slayn himselfe, it is no lese, But that this duke broughte al to rest & pees.

(510)

¶ Whan he knew how it with Arispus stood, Line 3564 He dressid him to him, and þat as swithë, And bad him to be glad of cheere and mood; He seide, and swoorë [swore R, swoor H.] to him oftë sithë, "As freendly wole I be, and stande as ny the Line 3568 As I dide euere;" and thus his pacïencie And meknesse hath qwenchid al [all R, as H.] þis offence. Line 3570

(511)

¶ Salomon seith, in him is sapience [¶ Salomon. Ubi est hu|militas, ibi sapientia. Origines: si humilis non fueris in te non potuit habitare gra|cia spiritus sancti.] Line 3571 That is indewed with benyngne humblesse. Grace of þe holy goost, no residence Holdith in þat man þat lakkéth meeknesse. God took vppon him humble buxumnesse Line 3575 Whan he him wrappid in our mortell rynde: That oughte a myrour be to al man-kynde. [At the bottom of this page is the figure of a man in a pink jacket, lying on his back upon a patch of grass, and holding in his hands the end of a rope noose, with which he is pulling into its place stanza 512, left out at first, and then written in the margin opposite st. 511.—G. E.] Line 3577

(512)

¶ Plesant to god was þe virginite [¶ Bernardus dicit, Beata maria, ex virginitate placuit deo, sed ex humil|itate conce|pit deum. [Written over stanza 512.]] Line 3578 Of his modir; but verray god & man Conseyued was thoruȝ þe humilite Whiche he be-heeld in þat blyssed woman. O humble maidë! who is it þat can Line 3582 The debonaire humblessë tellen al, Restynge in þy clennessë virginal? Line 3584

(513)

¶ Thogh þat þe humble were a foul habyt, [folio 62b] [¶ Basilius. Humilis licet habitu vilis sit, gloriosus tamen est virtutibus. Superbus autem si de|corus vide|atur aspectu tamen operi|bus vilis est. ¶ Isodorus. Quamuis summus es humilitatem tene. Salo|mon. Quan|to maior, &c.] Line 3585 Ȝit in vertuës glorious is he; But þe proud man stant in anoþer plyt; Thogh his array be fair & fresche to se, His dedës and his werkës foulë [foule R, foul H.] be. Line 3589 What hyȝe estate þat a man represente, Humble to be, let hym sette his entente! Line 3591

Line 3591

(514)

¶ Humylite verray, as seith Cesárie, [¶ Cesarius. Nunquam sine caritate vera humili|tas aut fuerat aut poterat esse. ¶ Ysodorus. Nullum pre|mium cari|tati equatur, caritas enim virtutum om|nium optinet principatum. A regno dei se separant qui semetipsos a caritate dissociant.] Line 3592 May neuere be with-outen charite; And sche is a vertu most necessarie: Amongës allë vertuës þat be, Sche on hem alle opteeneth dignite. Line 3596 They fro þe regne of god hem-self dyuyde, That charite wayven and caste a-syde. Line 3598

(515)

¶ Right as a man ne may nat thider goo [¶ Anselmus. Et sicut sine via nullus peruenit quo tendit, Ita, sine caritate que dicta est via ab aposto|lo, non recte ambulare possumus in via dei. ¶ Augustin|us. Habe caritatem & fac quod vis, &c.] Line 3599 Where he purposeth hym, but if a way Be thiderward, seint Amselm seiþ, right so, With-outen charite, men goo ne may Aryght vnto godward: men mowen ay Line 3603 Doon as him list, if þei ben charitable; But lakkynge it, is no þing profitable. Line 3605

(516)

¶ Only keepyng of charitee vs preeveth, [folio 63a] Line 3606 That we disciples ben of god almyghty. [¶ Gregorius in moralibus. Omnipoten|tis eterni dei nos esse dis|cipulos sola custodia cari|tatis probat. ¶ Scriptum est, Nemo quidem sanc|torum ad celestem glor|iam, nisi pacienciam seruando peruenit.] What þing it be þat harmeth man or greueth, By goodnesse ouercome it paciently; No seint to heuene comyth, as rede I, Line 3610 But by kepynge of pacïence, and how Men may it lerë, wole I schewë yow. Line 3612

(517)

Take heede how, whan þat crist oure sauëour Line 3613 Was bobbid, and his visage al be-spet, And gret despit doon him, and déshonour, Bounden and scourgëd & greuoúsly bett, Crownëd with thorne, naylëd to þe gybett, Line 3617 Ȝit, for al this tormént, no word he speeke, So was he pacïent, benigne, and meke. Line 3619

Line 3619

(518)

And syn our lord god was of swiche suffránce, Line 3620 Thanne is it to his crëaturë schame, On greef to hym doon, take any vengeánce. Man oghtë rathir sorowe for the blame That god schal konne him þat hath done þe grame, Than for þe harme þat þe greuéd haþ hent: So doth þe charitáble and pacïent. Line 3626

[§ 8.] De Castitate.

(519)

To chastite purpóse I now to haste, [This page, 63 a, has an illuminated initial T, and scroll bordering on three sides.—G. E.] Line 3627 Whiche couenable is, and conuenient, Vn-to a kyng for to sauoure and taaste. What princë þat with vnclennesse is brent, [¶ Scriptum est, Nisi pu|dicitia sedeat in mente, nulla perfec|tio sequitur in opere.] And ther-in settith his luste and talent, Line 3631 No perfyt dede or werk him folwe may: Mochil, is hertë chaast, to goddys pay. Line 3633

(520)

Right as þe persone of a prince outward Line 3634 Honúred is wiþ clothës precïous, So aughte his hertë cloþid ben inward With vertu, and hym kythë vertuous. ffresche apparaile and hertë leccherous [folio 63b] Line 3638 Unsittynly ben in a Princë ioynt, Namëly in a cristen kyng enoynt. Line 3640

(521)

¶ In as mochel as dignite of a kyng Line 3641 Excedith othir folk in reuerence, The more hym oghtë peyne hym, lest al þing Othir folk passe in vertuous excellence. Honour noȝt ellës is in éxistence Line 3645 Than reuerencë ȝeuen in witnesse Of [Of R, Or H.] vertu, as þe scripturës [scripture doth R.] expresse. Line 3647

Line 3647

(522)

¶ Honur, whiche was goten vertuously, [[R, om. H] Boecius dicit, Honor vir|tuose adqui|situs, non primo per dignitatem adquirebatur, sed dignitatis honor per virtutem ad|quisitus erat, &c.] Line 3648 Ne was naght first by dignite purcháced, As þat Boecë telleþ éxpresly, But dignitees honour was émbraced With vertu; dignite had ben vnlaced Line 3652 And vngirt of honour, nad vertu be; ffor vertu hath hir propre dignite. Line 3654

(523)

¶ Aristotle counseilled Alisaundre, Line 3655 To leccherye he noght enclynë scholde, ffor it [is] hoggës lif, whiche were esclaundre [disclaundre R.] To him, if he tho weiës takë wolde That beestës resonles vsen and holde; Line 3659 ffor of body it is destruccïoun, And eek of al vertu corrupcioun. Line 3661

(524)

¶ Syn thei, þat naght were [were R, neuer H.] of cristen bapteme, Line 3662 Counseillëd men eschuë leccherie, Than oghte vs cristen men þat vicë fleeme, And swichë lustës in vs mortifie. Who so entendeth in-to blisse stye, [folio 64a] Line 3666 That firy sparkle algate he moste qwenche, And lustës leue, of lady and of wenche. Line 3668

(525)

¶ The scripture seïþ, no fornicatour, [¶ Ad Ephe|sios. v^o. ffor|nicator non habebit here|ditatem in regno christi & dei. Ad Ebreos, iij^o. fforni|catores & adulteros iudicabit deus.] Line 3669 The regne of crist and god shal énherite; It seith eek, that him and þe aduoutour God demë shal; he can hir labour qwyte fful scharply, that in tho tweynë delite, Line 3673 And so he wolë, but [but yf R.] correccioun Be mannës scheeld, & his proteccioun. Line 3675

Line 3675

(526)

¶ Affrican Scipio, þat noble knyght, Line 3676 Whan he was xx^ti and iiij of age, [¶ De casti|tate Scipionis Affricani.] And by prowesse, and by manhode & myght Cartágiens putte hadde into seruáge, Ther was a mayde sent him into hostáge, Line 3680 Of yeerës ripe I-now, and of beaute Most excellent that men myghte owher se. Line 3682

(527)

¶ And whan þis worthi ȝong prince honurable, Line 3683 This woman sigh, of hir he took good ȝeme, Thynkynge þat she was of beaute able, The worthieste on lyuë for to queeme; And in him multiplied thoughtës breeme; Line 3687 But nathëles, for al þis besy þought, [thought R, þough H.] Enquere he gan, if she wyf were, or nouȝt. Line 3689

(528)

¶ Sche trouthëd was to Iudibal, men seide, Line 3690 A lord of þat Citee; and Scipio, On a mynystre of his þe chargë leide, ffor hir fadir and modir blyuë goo. Thei at his [his R, om. H.] hestë cam vnto him tho; [folio 64b] Line 3694 And in hir clenë virginal estat, Restorëd he þis mayde inuiolat. Line 3696

(529)

¶ The gold eek þat for hir redempcioun Line 3697 Purveyëd was, for-ȝaf he vtterly, In help and increes and promocïoun Of hir wedlok. and whan Iudibal sy And knewe how scipio thus nobl[el]y Line 3701 Demenëd him, he was ful wel apayed Of þat he grucchid first, and was affrayed. Line 3703

Line 3703

(530)

¶ He went vnto testatës [thestates R.] of þe toun, Line 3704 And tolde hem al þe cas, as it befil; And thei þis lord yaf loude [laude R.] and hy renoun ffor þat; and allë, [alle R, al H.] with oon hert and wil, Submitted hem to þis princë [(? vnto þis prince) to this prynces wille R.] gentil; Line 3708 Thus hertë [hert H R.] chaast and tendre gentillesse Conquéreth hertës, rather þan duresse. Line 3710

(531)

¶ Or marcus marcellus had þe citee Line 3711 Of Ciracusë taken or y-nome, He leet do crye amongës his meyne, That whan þe citee he had ouercome, And his folk ther-in entred [entred R, entreted H.] were & come, Line 3715 Noon be so hardy, þe wommen oppresse, [to oppresse R.] Ne touche hem by no wey of vnclennesse. Line 3717

(532)

¶ Ther was also a seemly fresshe yong man, Line 3718 To whom naturë swiche fauour had lent [¶ De casti|tate cuiusdam iuuenis.] Of schap and beaute, þat þer nas womman That onës had a look on hym dispent, But þat hir hertë [hert H R.] yaf flesshely consent; [folio 65a] Line 3722 And nathëles eschuëd he þe taast Of vnclennesse, and kepte his body chaast. Line 3724

(533)

¶ By toknës knew he hire vnclene entente, Line 3725 And with his naylës cracched he his face, And scocched it with knyuës, and to-rente, And it so wonderly þus [þus, om. H R.] gan difface, That his beaute refusëd hadde hir place: Line 3729 Al þis dide he, hir hertës [hertes R, hert H.] to remewe ffrom him, and make hem vnclennésse eschue.

(534)

¶ Ierom tellith, agayn Iouinian, [¶ De casti|tate cuiusdam temine Vlie numcupate.] Line 3732 A faire womman, a maidë clept Vlie, Y-wedded was vnto an agëd man, A Romayn, smyten with þe pallësie; But sche in chastite was sette so hye, Line 3736 That an ensaumple verrayliche was sche To allë tho þat louëd chastitee. Line 3738

(535)

¶ Hire housbonde herde onès [ones hade R, herde oned H.] an enemy, Line 3739 Whiche þat he haddë, spoke [that said and spake R, þat he hadd spoke H.] in his repreef, That his breth stank, as þat he stode him by; Wher-of he toke gret heuynesse and greef; He goth hoom to his wyf, and þis mescheef Line 3743 fful heuely to hire he gan compleyne, And þus of hire he gan to aske and freyne: Line 3745

(536)

¶ "Whi, wyf," quod he, "han ye noght or this tyme I-warnëd me how þat it wiþ me stood?" "Sire, it was nought," quod sche, "aspied by me; I held your breth ay also suete and good As other mennës ben; I vnderstood [folio 65b] Line 3750 Non othir, ne yit do in sothfastnesse." fful fewë men had sche kist, as I gesse. Line 3752

(537)

¶ She hily was to preyse and to commende, Line 3753 That naght ne knewe by othir mennès mouthes Hir makis vice: it [it R, at H.] was al wel, sche wende. To fyndë many swiche ful vnkouthe is; Lat vs awayte wel whan þe wynd south is Line 3757 And north at onès blowynge on þe sky, And fyndë swiche an hepe þan hardily. Line 3759

Line 3759

(538)

¶ Plato, his patrimoygne and his contree [¶ De Platonis castitate.] Line 3760 Lefte and for-sook, and dwelte in wildernesse, ffor to restreynë fleschely nycete; And his disciples louëd so clennesse, And for to fallen hadden swiche gastnesse, Line 3764 Hir eyën they out of hir heedës brente, Lest sighte of hem, spottë myght [myght spotte R.] her entente.

(539)

¶ Demostenes his handës onës putte [¶ De Domes|tenes [Demostenis R.] casti|tate.] Line 3767 In a wommannës bosom iapyngly, Of facë faire, but of hir body a slutte: "With yow to delë," seide he, "what schal I Yow yeuë?" "xl pens," quod sche, soothly. Line 3771 He seydë nay, so dere he byë nolde A thyng for whiche þat him repentë [repent H, R.] schulde.

(540)

¶ I fynde, how two doughtres of a duchesse, [¶ De casti|tate duarum filiarum cuiusdam ducisse.] Line 3774 The fleschely touches of men for to fle, When men of Hongary hem wolde oppresse, In cónseruynge of hir virginite, Thei hem purveyded a good sotilte: [folio 66a] Line 3778 Thei chiknës flesche putte vndirneþe hir pappes, Hem to defendë from vnclenly happes. Line 3780

(541)

¶ Be-holde, of wommen here a noble wyle! Line 3781 In schort avisëment, who can do bet? Bi that þis flesche þus hadde leyen a while, And þat it was y-chaufëd wel and hete, It stank so foulë, þat it haþ I-lette Line 3785 Tho men, þat wery þei were of hir pray, And fórsook þe wommen, and went hir way. Line 3787

Line 3787

(542)

¶ O wommanhode! in þe regneþ vertu Line 3788 So excellent, þat to [to R, so H.] feble is my witt To éxpresse it; wherefor I am eschu To melde [medle R.] or make a long sermoun of it. Som mannës mouth yit wolde I were I-schet, Line 3792 That vice of wommen spareþ nought [not R, nough H.] bywreye, ffor allë [alle R, al H.] soothës ben nought for to seie. Line 3794

(543)

¶ But for to talkë forth of contynence Line 3795 Or chastite,—who-so chaast lyuë schal, Moot scourge his fleschely lust with abstinence, Thristë him dowyn, yeue him no place at al: Metës & drynkës make a soulë thral, Line 3799 If þe body be reulëd by excesse; ffor-thi it nedeth take of hem þe lesse. Line 3801

(544)

¶ Excesse of mete and drynke is wombës frende, Line 3802 And wombe is next to oure membres priue; Glotonye is ful plesant to þe fende, To leccherië redy path is sche. The fend lyth in a-wayte of oure freelte, [folio 66b] Line 3806 And stireth a man to drinkës delicat, To make agaynës chastite debat. Line 3808

(545)

¶ A man schulde ete and drynke in swiche a wise Line 3809 As may be to his helthës sústenynge, Aftir þe doctrine of Senek þe wise. Sum man drynketh the wyn þat is wenynge; Than [When R.] he drynkeþ his witt: more is preysinge Line 3813 And honurable, a man compleyne of [of R, or H.] thrist, Than dronken be, whan he þe cuppe haþ kist.

(546)

¶ Thus seidë Ierom vn-to a virgyne: Line 3816 "O doghter, syn thapostle sorë dredde [¶ Ieronimus ad filiam vir|ginem. 'O filia,' inquit, 'si apostolus castigauit corpus & in seruitutem redegit.'] Lust of his flesche, and dide his body peyne, And heeld it lowe, and symplëly it fedde, Wherthoruȝ þe vice of vnclennesse he fledde, Line 3820 Of continence how maist þou siker be, Of foodë delicat þat hast plente, Line 3822

(547)

¶ And specialy now in þi youthës hete [hete R, hede H.] ?" Line 3823 ffor who so wilneth to be contynent, [¶ Seneca. Si continenciam diligis, cir|cumcide su|perflua & voluptuosa.] Many a lust superflu mot he lete, And lykerous; by mesure, his talent Mesúre he moot; whan resoun is regent Line 3827 Of man, þan regneþ no delicacie; Resoun, a man defendeth fro folye. Line 3829

(548)

¶ The wynës delicat, and swete and strong, Line 3830 Causen ful many an inconuenience; If þat a man outrageously hem fonge, Thei birien [birien R, biren H.] wit, and fórbeden scilence Of conseil; thei outraien pacience, [folio 67a] Line 3834 Thei kyndlen ire, and firen liccherie, And causen both body and soulë dye. Line 3836

(549)

¶ And trewëly [trewly H, truly R.] it is ful perilous Line 3837 Vnto a princë, whiche þat hath a land In gouernance, in þat be vicïous; It nedeth him take heede vnto his hand, Þat that vicë him combre not; for and Line 3841 It do, he schal noght regnë but a throwe: fful many a man haþ éxcesse ouerthrowe. Line 3843

Line 3843

(550)

¶ Of babiloynë, þe kyng Baltasar, [¶ Danielis vi^o. Eadem nocte inter|fectus est Baltasar, Rex Caldeus, & Darius medus successit in regno, &c.] Line 3844 Nat haddë ben I-pryuëd of his lyf, If he of dronkenessë [drunkenesse R, dronkenes H.] hadde be war; But for þat he þerin was défectyf, It of his deth was verray causatyf; Line 3848 By nyghtertale he was slayn by kyng dárie; Thus payeth glotoun éxcesse hir salárie. Line 3850

(551)

¶ Thorugh drunkenesse, how took his deth Nabal? [¶ Regum I. capitulo xxv^o. Cor Nabal iocundum erat ebrius enim nimis, &c. Machabeo|rum xxviij^o. ¶ Et cum inebriatus esset Simon & filii eius, surexit tholo|meus, &c.] And how slow Tholome also Symoun? Allas! þat drynkë so man seruë schal! How leidë Lothës doghtres hem a-down By hir fadir? whan his discrecïoun Line 3855 Was dreynt with wyn, he with hem fleschely delte, And þerof no thing ne wistë nor [nor R, or H.] feelte. Line 3857

(552)

¶ How was eek Olofernë, by Iudith [¶ Genesis xix^o. Veni, inebriemus eum vino, dormiamus|que cum eo, vt reseruare possimus ex patre nostro semen, &c. Iudith. capi|tulo 22^o.] Line 3858 The womman slayn, but þorugh his drunkenesse? What prince it be, þat spotted is þerwith, His welthe haþ but a brotil stablenesse: Of swichë stories mo wolde I expresse, [folio 67b] Line 3862 But for I noght ne can, I lete hem passe; I am as lewed and dulle as is an asse. Line 3864

(553)

¶ With litel foodë, [foode R, food H.] cóntent is natúre; Line 3865 And bet þe body farith wiþ a lite, Than whan it charged is out of mesúre. Lookë what þing may þe body profite, And þe soule in þe samë schal delite; Line 3869 What þing þat it distempereth & dissesith, The soule it hurteth, for it god displesith. Line 3871

Line 3871

(554)

¶ Wratthë, þe body of man inward fretith, Line 3872 And god þer-wiþ displesid is ful sore; Envie also of god and man hir getith Lik thank and ese, and schal do euermore; And leccherie, as techiþ smertës lore, Line 3876 The body wastith, and þe soulë grevith, And foodë delicat þerto man meevith. Line 3878

(555)

¶ Be-holde also, whan þat þe paunche is ful, Line 3879 A fumë clymbith vp in-to þe heed, And makiþ a man al lustles and al [all R, om. H.] dul; He vexith [wexeth R.] heuy as a peece of leed. Who-so þat þan woldë yeue him reed Line 3883 To looke in a book of deuocïoun, I trowe in ydel were his mocïoun. Line 3885

(556)

¶ But conseil him to trotte vnto þe wyn, Line 3886 And, for al his excesse and his outrage, He þerto wole assentë wel and fyn, And þerë wole he outen [uttre R.] his langáge, And do to Bachus and Venus homáge; [folio 68a] Line 3890 ffor non of hem two can be wel from othir, Thei loue as vel [wele R.] as doth sustir & brothir. Line 3892

(557)

And aftir moot he rownë with a pilwe, Line 3893 His lyfles resouns þerë to despende. We beestës resonable, allas! whi wil we Ageyn resoun werrye, and hir offende? O goodë [goode R, good H.] god! thy gracë to vs sende, Line 3897 That we may fle suche superfluite, And al þing that is foo to chastite! Line 3899

[§ 9.] De Regis Magnanimitate.

(558)

Off magnanimite now wole I trete, [This page is illuminated.—G. E.] Line 3900 Þat is to seyn, strong herte or grete corage, Whiche in knyghthode haþ stablisshed hir sete. [sete R, fete H.] Ye, gracious Prince, of blode and of lynage Descendid ben, to haue it in vsage; Line 3904 Mars haþ euer ben frend to ȝour worþi lyne; Ye moot of kyndë to manhode enclyne. Line 3906

(559)

He þat is strong of corage and of herte,— Line 3907 Yf he lordschipës haue, or grete richesse, Or þat fortunës stynge hym ouerthwerte, [fortune . . ouerthwert R, fortunes . . ouerthwete H.] — Is alwey on [one R.] in welthe and in distresse; He, lucre and los, weyeth in euenesse; Line 3911 He settiþ litel by good temperel; How þe worlde schape, he takiþ it ay wel. Line 3913

(560)

¶ But for to speke of corage of a kyng, [folio 68b] Line 3914 he of his peple oweþ be so cheer, That hir profet he moot for any þing Promotë wit his myght and his power. ¶ And for his reme and him take him so neer, Line 3918 That vnto þe perilës of bataille He moot him puttë, and in hem trauaylle, Line 3920

(561)

¶ And in diffense of holy chirche also, Line 3921 And for oure feith putte him in iupartye [iuperdie R, partye H.] ; Othir causes ben ther but fewë mo, Whi a kyng aughte to bataylë hym hye, And in tho causes drede him not to dye, Line 3925 But kythe hym a good knyght a-mong his foos: Thus wonne is magnanymyteës loos. Line 3927

Line 3927

(562)

¶ Right as we seen by reson and natúre, Line 3928 Part of mannys body diffendeth al; As an arme putteþ him in áuenture ffor þe body, þat nat perische it schal, Right so a kyngës chertë special, Line 3932 If he god loue, and his peple, & his [his, om. R.] land, Whan nede is, mot diffende hem wiþ his hande.

(563)

¶ Thoruȝ grete [grete R, om. H.] emprises wonne is hy renoun; Line 3935 Renoun is callëd glorie & honour; Magnanimite haþ þis condicïoun, That in bataile, how scharp þat be þe stour, Hym leuere is to suffre dethës schour, Line 3939 Than cowardly and schamëfully flee, So manly of curáge and herte is he. Line 3941

(564)

¶ He medleth neuere but of þingës grete, [folio 69a] Line 3942 And hye, and vertuous; he neuere is meeved With smalë thingës, as the bookës trete; And swiche a drede haþ for to be repreued, That vnto þing þat may be knowe or preued Line 3946 ffor vilonous, or foul, or répreeuáble, He neuere obeieþ, þis knyȝt honuráble. Line 3948

(565)

¶ Thane I rede of oon clepet [I haue yredde of one clept R.] Coadrus, [¶ De mag|nanimitate Coadri Prin|cipis excer|citus athe|niensis.] Line 3949 That was prince of þe oost of Athinyens, How in þe feeld a lawë made was þus Twixt his host and hem of Polipolens— With triumphë schuldë [shulde R, schuld H.] þat part go þens, Line 3953 Whos duc or Princë were vnarmëd slawe In habit straungë; lo! swiche was þe lawe. Line 3955

Line 3955

(566)

¶ Him leuer was him selfen for to dye, Line 3956 And his men liuë, þan se hem be-stad So streitë, þat by violent maistrie His foos hadde hem venqwissht or ouer-lad. A-dayës now is non swiche chierte had; Line 3960 Algatës I ne can nat seen it vsid, Knyghtës ben loth þerof to ben accused. Line 3962

(567)

¶ O worthi Prince! I truste in ȝour manhode, Line 3963 Medlid wiþ prudence and discrecïoun, That ȝe schulle makë many a knyȝtly rode, And þe pride of oure foos thristen adoun. [Hoccleve's trust was fulfild at Agincourt, &c.] Manhode and witt conquéren hy renoun; Line 3967 And qwo-so [who so R.] lakkiþ outhir of þe tweyne, Of armës wantiþ þe bridél and reyne. Line 3969

(568)

¶ Yf [Yf R, Of H.] þe ordre of knyghthode be resceyuëd, [folio 69b] Line 3970 fful nedeful is a man to be prudent, Ellës þat host may lightly be disceyuëd That is vnto his gouernance I-bent; Presumpcïon [Presumptuous R.] is disobedient Line 3974 Al day, and by wisdom not will him gie, All iustifieth his obstýnacie. Line 3976

(569)

¶ Ofte in batailës hath be seen or this, Line 3977 A sydë suffred hath discomfiture, Whiche an vnwys heed giëd hath amys. What knyght on hym takith þat charge or cure, If he in knyghtly honur schal endure, Line 3981 Him oghte endowëd ben of sapience, And haue in armës greet experience. Line 3983

Line 3983

(570)

¶ Experience and art in a [a R, om. H.] bataille, Line 3984 Of þe prudent knyght morë may profite, Than hardinesse or forcë may auaille Of him þat þerof knoweþ noght or lite. Hardinesse, in effecte, nat worth a myte Line 3988 Is to victorious conclusïoun, But wiþ hym medle art, wit, and resoun. Line 3990

(571)

¶ Whan reueled wit and manly [reuled . . manly R, reueled . . namly H.] hardynesse Line 3991 Ben knytte to-gidre, as ȝok of mariage, Ther foloweþ of victórie þe swetnesse; ffor to sette on hym whettith his coráge, And wit restreyne his wil can & aswage Line 3995 In tymë duë, and in [due and R.] couenáble; And thus tho two ioynt ben ful profitable. Line 3997

(572)

But be a knyght wys or coragëous, [folio 70a] [This page is illuminated.] Line 3998 Or haue hem bothe at onès at his lust, If þat his herte of good be désirous, On his manhode is ther but litel trust. God grauntë knyghtès rubbe away the rust Line 4002 Of couetise, if it hir hertës cancre, And graunte hem picche in souffisance hir ancre.

[§ 10.] Quod rex non debet felicitatem suam ponere in diuiciis.

(573)

Now, for as moche as magnanymyte Line 4005 May no foot holde, if þat þe herte of man Gretly vnto richesse enclynëd be, Than is þe bestë reed þat I see can, A kyng þer-in delyte hym naght; for whan Line 4009 His herte is in þat vicë ficched hye, Smal prowesse in hym wole it signifie. Line 4011

Line 4011

(574)

And if a kyngës honour schal be queynt Line 4012 With a foul and a [a R, om. H.] wrecched couetise, His peples trust in hym schal be ful feynt; A kyng may naght gouérne hym in þat wise; The coueitous may do no gret emprise; Line 4016 ffor whan his hertë lurketh in his cofre, His body to batayle he dar not profre. Line 4018

(575)

If þat a kyng sette his felicite Line 4019 Principally on rychesse & moneye, His peple it torneþ to aduersite, ffor he ne rekkeþ in what wise or weye He pile hem: allas! þat kyngës nobleye [folio 70b] Line 4023 Turnë schulde into style of tirannye! Allas! the peril, harme, and vilenye! Line 4025

(576)

¶ God I byseeche, your hert to [hert to R, herte H.] enlumyne, Line 4026 Gracïous princë, þat þe feend our foo No power hauë so your hertë myne, But of his gracë kepë yow ther-fro, And grantë yow to gouernë yow so Line 4030 As most holsom is for bodý and soule; That desire I, by God and by seynt Poule. Line 4032

(577)

¶ Whan that Marcus Curcius, a Romeyn, [¶ Qualiter Marcus Cur|cius dixit, quod mallet diuites ha|bere suo man|dato obedi|entes, quam diues ipsemet esse.] Line 4033 Vnto þe Beneventans seegë leide, ffor he was poore, as þat þey herdë seyn, They a grete somme of gold hym sente, & preyde Withdrawe his seege; and he answerde and seide, "To hem retourneth / þat yow hider sente, And thus to hem declareth myn entente: Line 4039

Line 4039

(578)

¶ "Seye hem, Marcus Curcïus leuer is Line 4040 Richë men haue at his commandëment, Than to be riche hym-self; tellë hem this: He may with gold not be corrupt, ne blent; Of force of men eek, þey ben impotent Line 4044 To venqwisshe hym; for þere hir art schal faile, Hir blyndë profers schal hem noght auaile." Line 4046

(579)

¶ To Alisaundre, as I schal tellen here, Line 4047 A knyght, whiche was vnto hym specïal, [¶ Refert Va|lerius quali|ter quidam miles Alex|andri argue|bat eum de sua cupidi|tate.] Thus spake, and blamed hym in þis manere: He seide, "if oure goddës [goddes R, gooddes H.] thy body smal, To thi gredy desire had maad egal, [folio 71a] Line 4051 Al þe world haddë nouȝt be súffisant To han receyuëd so large a Geaunt. Line 4053

(580)

¶ "ffor with þi riȝt honde, thow þe orient Line 4054 Shuldest han touchid, I am sure of þat; And with þi lift honde, eke þe occident; Now, syn þat þy [þy R, om. H.] body answérith nat Vnto þi willë, what may [shall R.] I sey, what? Line 4058 Ethir þou art a man, or god, or nouȝt; Mechil of þe, merueyle I in my þought. Line 4060

(581)

¶ "If þou be god, thow folow most his trace, Line 4061 And nouȝt men of her gode robbe or be-reue, [nor reue R.] But hem releue, & do hem ese and grace. If þou be man, considere eke, by thy leue, Þou art mortél, þou mayst be dede or eue. Line 4065 If þou be no þing, þe putte out of mynde, Os [As R.] he þat is of no nature or kynde. Line 4067

Line 4067

(582)

¶ "Ther is no hye estate so sadde and stable, Line 4068 Remembre wele, [wele R, wile H.] lat it nat be for-ȝete, But he to falle in perile is ful able. By deeth, a leon maad is briddës mete, And bestës also his flessh gnawe & frete." Line 4072 Þe answere of þe kyng, naught haue I herde; My booke not telleth how he was answerde. Line 4074

(583)

¶ Senek seith, the poër [poore R.] Diogenes, [¶ Pauper diogenes dicior erat Alexandro.] Line 4075 Kyng Alisandre in richessë past, ffor he ne myȝt, as he seith doutëles, Ȝeue hym so mochil golde, ne on hym cast, ¶ As he refusë wolde: O! at the last, [folio 71b] Line 4079 Men þinke shullen þei to mochil [moche R.] haue had, And of þis worldys muk be ful vnglad. Line 4081

(584)

Desire of good, a king mot leye apart, Line 4082 And peyne him to purcháse him a good fame; Ther-in lat him laboure, and doon his art; [part R.] Ther nys no þing vnto [vnto = comparable to.] a worthi name; And if a kyng it lakke, it were his shame, Line 4086 And shame is contrarie vnto worthynesse; Gode lose desserued, [loos decerued R.] is grettest richesse. Line 4088

(585)

¶ And for largessë [largesse R, larges H.] wynneþ gode renoun, Line 4089 Ther-of [Therof, pron. throf.] þink I now, to trete a litil stounde; A prince & kyng of al a regioun Mot avaricë thrist a-doune to grounde; To hym þat lith in hellë depe I-bounde, Line 4093 The, [Or is 'the' an article?] auarice, by-takë I to kepe; Thow pynëpeny, [pynchepeny R.] ther ay mot þou slepe! Line 4095

Line 4095

(586)

¶ Golde wolde, for [for R, om. H.] false enprisonyng, [fals prisonyng R.] a writ Line 4096 Sue agayn þe, if he at largë were; But he so fast is in þi cofre shit, He may not out. O fals enprisonere, Largessë woldë be with shelde & spere Line 4100 Euen in þi berde, if he brake out to-morwe, And for his sakë do thë care and sorwe. Line 4102

(587)

¶ Þou to largessë dost ful muchil wronge, Line 4103 Þat haþ [hast R.] hir seruant vndir þi seruage; On the, and noght on hir, is it a-longe Þat golde is lette to goon on hir message. She haþ hym sent in many a viage [folio 72a] Line 4107 Or this, & that was the comoun profyte, The whiche to lette, is euere þi delyte. Line 4109

(588)

Largesse only noght list golde seruant be Line 4110 Vnto hir self; but the peple, she wolde Had as gode part of hir seruyce as she; To hir is al the comoun peple I-holde, But þou makest þe peplës [peples R, peple H.] hertës colde; Line 4114 Þou slest an hepë which þat she wolde saue; Þou no wyte helpest, ⁵þow he þi help⁵ [5_5 though he þyne help R. þow he þi peple H.] craue. Line 4116

(589)

Me list no morë speke of þe this tyme, Line 4117 But of myne helply lady souereyne Largessë, my ladý, now wil I ryme, And aftirward of þi cursëd careyne I spekë shal; nought o worde wol I feyne, Line 4121 But as scripturës treten of the, wrecche, I touchë shal; þe feende [devell R.] the hennës fecche! Line 4123

[§ 11.] De Virtute Largitatis, & De Vicio Prodigalitatis.

(590)

Aristotil, of largesse, telleth this: [This page is illuminated, like the other section-head ones are.] [¶ Aristoteles de regimine principum, capitulo de largitate. 'Si vis virtutem largitatis ad|quirere, con|sidera posse tuum, tem|pora necessi|tatis & merita hominis,' &c.] Line 4124 Who vertuously largë list to be, Concider first of what power he is, And eke the tymës of necessite; And as þe men disseruen, so be fre; Line 4128 Yif in mesure vn-to þe indigent And the worthi, and þat is wel dispent. Line 4130

(591)

¶ And who doth othir wyse in his ȝeuyng, [folio 72b] [[R, om. H] Qui aliter dat, regulam ex|cedit largita|tis. Qui lar|giter bona sua hominibus non indigen|tibus nulla; et quicquid datur indig|nis perditur; et qui fundit ultra modum diuicias suas, cito veniet ad amara litora paupertatis, et assimilatur illi qui victo|riam super se dat inimicis suis &c.] Line 4131 Largesses rulë passith and excedith; He nouther worthi is þank ne preysyng, That to hym þat no nede hath, ȝiftës bedith. Of verray folye also it procedith Line 4135 To ȝeuë the onworthi; for þat [þi R.] cost All mysse dispendid is, for it is lost. Line 4137

(592)

¶ And he þat díspendith out of mesúre Line 4138 Shal tast a-none pouértes bitternesse; ffoole largesse is ther-to a verray lure. Of hem also he berith the lyknesse, That on him self, as þe booke berith witnesse, Line 4142 Victórie ȝeueth to his enemys; And he þat so dispendith, is not wyse. Line 4144

(593)

¶ Largessë stant noght in mochil ȝeuynge, Line 4145 But it is aftir þe wille & þe myght Of hym þat ȝeueth aftir his hauynge; ffor it may som tyme happë þat a wight, Which of richessë berith nat but light, Line 4149 Ȝeueth but smal; & ȝit larger is he Than he þat ȝeueth gretter quantite. Line 4151

Line 4151

(594)

¶ Aftir his goode, man may ȝeue & dispende Line 4152 Wher as nede is; but he þat al [all R, hath al H.] dispendith, And wastith al, shal him-selue first offende. ffoolë largesse al day wrycchédly endith [Foole large . . . wrecchedly endith R, Fool largesse . . . wrycchedly enditith H.] ; Many a man hir foule outragë shendith; Line 4156 But of largesse is goode þe [of largesses goode R.] gouernaunce; Bothë to god and man [Bothe . . . to man R, Both . . . man H.] it is plesaunce. Line 4158

(595)

¶ Evene as a mannës blood is norisshyng [folio 73a] Line 4159 To his body, if it corrupt naght be, So ben richesses to soulës feedynge Holsom, if þei, were-as necessite Axith, despent ben, and also if he Line 4163 Whiche þat hem wan, gat hem with riȝtwisnesse; ffor heuene and helle is gotë [ben goten R.] by richesse. Line 4165

(596)

¶ A crookid hors neuere is the bet [the better is R.] entecched, Line 4166 Al-þogh his bridel glistre of gold, and schyne; Right so a man þat vicious is, & wrecched, And his richésses gote haþ of rapyne, And also euele as man can ýmagyne, Line 4170 Despendith hem / naght for hem þe bet is, But mochil wers; good is [gode is to R.] take hede of þis. Line 4172

(597)

¶ He þat his flesche dispendith, and his blood, Line 4173 Mi lorde, in ȝour seruice, him ȝiftës bede; There is largessë mesuráble good; A kyng so bounde is, he moot doo so nede; Seruice vnquyt and murdre, it is no drede, Line 4177 As clerkes writen, and desheritaunce, Bifore al-mighty god auxen [axen.] vengeaunce. Line 4179

Line 4179

(598)

¶ Of fool largessë wole I talke a space; Line 4180 How it befil, I not in what contree, But þere was oon named Iohn of Canace, [This story, under different forms, was a very common one in the Middle Ages. One version will be found in my Latin stories, p. 28 . . . . the story of King Lear and his daughters is another version.—T. Wright, De Reg., p. 199.] A richë man, & two douȝtres had he, That to two worthy men of a Citee Line 4184 He wedded [wedden R.] leet; and þerë was gladnesse And reuel, morë than I can expresse. Line 4186

(599)

¶ The fadir, his doughtres and hir husbondes [folio 73b] Line 4187 Loued ful wele, and had hem leef & dere; Tyme to tyme he ȝaf hem with his hondes Of his goode passyngly; & þei swich chere Him made, & were of so plesant manere Line 4191 Þat he ne wist how be bettre at ese, Þei couden hym so wele cheryssh & please. Line 4193

(600)

¶ ffor he as mochil hauntid in partie Line 4194 Hir house, as þat he did his ownë house; Þei held hym vp so with her flaterye, That of dispens he was outragëous, And of goodë þei were ay desirous; Line 4198 Al þat þei axed, haden þei redy; Þei [And they R.] euer weren on hym right [right, om. R H.] gredy. Line 4200

(601)

7 Þis sely man contynued his outráge, Line 4201 Tyl al his goodë was disshid [wasted R.] & goone; And when þei felt his dispenses a-swage, Thei wax to him vnkyndë right [right R, om. H.] anone; ffor after haddë [hade R, had H.] he cherishing none, Line 4205 Thei wery weren of his companye: And he [And he R, He H.] was wyse, and shope a remedye. Line 4207

Line 4207

(602)

¶ He to a marchaunt goose, of his notise, Line 4208 Wich þat his trusty frende had be ful ȝore, Besechyng hym, þat he wold hym cheuyse Of ten thousand ['x. Ml.' H, ten thousand R.] pounde, ne lenger ne more Than dayës thre, and he wolde it restore Line 4212 At his day; þis was done; þe summe he hent, And to his ownë house þer-with he went. Line 4214

(603)

¶ And on the mornë, prayde he to soupere [folio 74a] Line 4215 His sonnës both & his doughtres also. Þei to him cam, with-owten any daungere: How þat þei ferden, lat I passe and goo; Thei ferden wel, with-outen wordës moo; Line 4219 To his konyng, he grete disport hem made, He did his myght to chere hem, & to glade. Line 4221

(604)

¶ Aftir souper, whan þei hir tymë sye, Line 4222 Þei toke her leue, & home þei wolde al-gate; And he answerd, and seyde hem sekirly, "This nyȝt ye shul nat passe out of the gate; Your house is fer, and it is dyrke and late; Line 4226 Neuen it nat, for it shal nat be-tyde;" And so al nyȝt he made hem to abyde. Line 4228

(605)

¶ The fadir logëd hem, of sly purpóse, Line 4229 In a chambre next to his ioynyng; [ioynyng R, ionyng H.] ffor by-twix hem nas þer but a parclose Of bordë, nauȝt but of homly [bord . . . homely R.] makyng; Þurgh out þe which, at many a chynnyng, Line 4233 In echë chambre þei myghten [myghten R, myght H.] beholde, And see what othir dyden, if þat þei wolde. Line 4235

Line 4235

(606)

¶ I kan nat sey how þei slepten þat nyȝt; Line 4236 Also it longith [longeth R, logith H.] nat to my matere; But on þe morwë, at brodë day liȝt The fadir roose; and for þei shulden here What þat he dyd, in a boystous manere Line 4240 Vnto his chist, which þat [þat, om. H R.] three lokkys hadde, He went, and þer-at wrested he ful sadde. Line 4242

(607)

¶ And when it was I-opned & vnshytte, [folio 74b] Line 4243 Þe bagged gold by þe marchaunt hym lent He hath vncofred, and streyte forþ with it Vnto his beddis feete gone is & went. What doth þan þis fel [felle R.] man & right [right, om. H R.] prudent, Line 4247 But out þis golde on a tippet hath shotte, That in þe baggës leftë [left H R.] þere no grotte. Line 4249

(608)

¶ And al þis did he noght but for a wyle, Line 4250 As þat ye shul wel knowen aftirwarde; He shope his sonnës & doughtres begile. [to begile R.] His noysë made hem dressen hem vpwarde; Þei cast her erës to his chambre-warde, Line 4254 And herd of golde þe russhyng and the soun, As that he rudëly threwe hem adoun. Line 4256

(609)

¶ And to þe parclos þei hem hast and hye, Line 4257 To wyte and knowë what her fadir wrought. In at þe chynnës of þe borde þei prye, And sigh how he amonge þe nobles sought If défectif were any, as hem þought; Line 4261 And on his nayl he threwe hem oft & cast, And baggëd hem and cofred at the last; Line 4263

Line 4263

(610)

¶ And opned his dore, & dounë goth his wey. Line 4264 And aftir blyue, out of hir bedde þei rise, And cam doune eke: hir fadir þanken þey Of his gode cherë, in hir bestë [best H R.] wyse,— And al was for þe goldës couetyse,— Line 4268 And to gon hoom, þei axid of hym leue; Thei ben departyd, and þei þere hym leue. Line 4270

(611)

¶ Walkyng homward, þei iangeld fast, & speeke [folio 75a] Line 4271 Of þe golde which þei sey hir fadir haue. Oon seyd, "I wondre ther-on;" "and I eke," Quod a-nothir, "for, also god me saue, Ȝistir-day, thogh I shuld in-to my graue Line 4275 Haue crept, I durst on it haue leyde my lyfe, That golde with hym nought haddë [hade R, had H.] ben so ryfe."

(612)

¶ Now lat hem muse on þat, what so hem list; Line 4278 And to hir fadir now wol I me dresse. He al þis golde takith out of his chist, And to þe marchaunt payde it more & lesse, Þankyng hym often [ofte R, oft H.] of his kyndënesse; Line 4282 And þennës goth he homë to his mete, And to his sonnës house when he had ete. Line 4284

(613)

¶ When he cam thidir, thei made of hym more Line 4285 Þan þat þei werë wont, by many folde; So gret disport þei made hym noȝt ful ȝore. "ffadir," quod þei, "þis is your owne housholde; In feith, þer is no þing within oure holde, Line 4289 But it shal be at your comandëment; Wolde god þat ye weren at [werest H, were of R.] oure assent, Line 4291

Line 4291

(614)

¶ Þennë [Þen H, Than R.] we shulden ay to-gedir dwelle." Line 4292 Al what þei menten, wist he wel I-now: "Sonnës and doughtres," quod he, "soth to telle, Mi wille is goode also to be with yow. How shuld I myrier be? nat wot I how, Line 4296 Than with yow for to be continuel; Your companyë liketh me ful wel." Line 4298

(615)

¶ Now shope it so, þei helden house in fere, [folio 75b] Line 4299 Sauf þe fadir; and as þei lough & pleyde, His doughtres bothë with a [bothe with R, both with H.] lawghyng chere Vn-to hir fadir spake, and þus þei seyde, And to assoile hir questïoun hym preyde: [

As lines 4304-5, MS. Reg. 17 D vi, has:

"What so euer it be, koth the fader, nowAnd I kan or may, I shall it telle yow."

And for lines 4310-12 it has—

"As ye haue done, ye shull haue alle tho."] Line 4303 "Now, godë fadir, how mochil monye In your strong bounden chist is, we yow preye?

(616)

¶ "Ten thousand ['X^m.' H, Ten thousand R.] pounde," he seide, & lyëd lowde, "I told hem," quod he, "nat ful long agoo, And þat as redely as þat I cowde. Ȝif ye wil aftir þis do to me so As ye haue done by-fornë, þan al tho Line 4310 I in my testament disposë shal ffor your profytë; yours it shal ben al." Line 4312

(617)

¶ Aftir þis day, þei all in oon house were, Line 4313 Til þe day com of þe fadirs deying. Goode mete and drynke, and clothës for to were He had, and payëd nat to his endyng. When he sey þe tyme of his départyng, Line 4317 His sonës and his doughtres did he calle, And in this wise he spakë to hem alle: Line 4319

Line 4319

(618)

¶ "Nat purpose I make othir testament, Line 4320 But of þat is in my strong chist I-bounde; And riȝt anone, or I be hennës [hens H R.] hent, An hundred pound ['C. li' H, hundred pounde R.] of nobles gode and rounde, Takith to prechours; tarryeth it no stounde; Line 4324 An hundred pound ['C. li' H, hundred pounde R.] eke to þe frerës grey, And carmës fifty [MS. 'l,' fifty R.] : tarrye it nought, I sey. Line 4326

(619)

¶ "And when I buried am, of hem the keyes [folio 76a] Line 4327 Of my chist takith, for þat [þat, om. H R.] þei hem kepe; By euery keyë [key H R.] writen ben the weyes Of my wille." þis golde was nat suffred slepe; It was anone dalt, for hir hertis depe Line 4331 Stak in his bounden cofre, and al hir hope Was godë bagges þerin for to grope. Line 4333

(620)

¶ To euery chirche and recluse of þe toune, Line 4334 Bad hem eeke of golde ȝeue [yeue eke of golde R.] a quantite: Al as he bad, þei weren prest and boune, And did it blyuë; but, so mot I the, fful slily he disceyuyd þis meyne, Line 4338 His sonnës and his doughtres boþ, I mene; Hir berdës shauëd he right smothe & clene. Line 4340

(621)

¶ When he was dede, and his exéquies do, Line 4341 Solenily [Solempnely R.] þei to þe frerës ȝide, And bad þo keyes delyuere hem vn-to; And as þat [þat, om. H R.] þei hem beden, so þei dide. Tho ioyful sonës dresse hem to þe stide Line 4345 Wher as þis strongë bounden chistë [strong . . . chist H (chest) R.] stoode; But or þei twynned þens, þei pekkid moode. Line 4347

Line 4347

(622)

¶ Thei opneden þe chist, & fonde riȝt nought Line 4348 But a passyngly greet sergeántës mace, In which ther gaily made was and I-wrought This samë scripture: "I, Iohn of Canace, Makë swhich testament here in þis place; Line 4352 Who berith charge of othir men, & is Of hem despisëd, slayn be he with this." Line 4354

(623)

¶ Among folïes all is noon, I leue, [folio 76b] Line 4355 More þan a [a R, om. H.] man his gode ful largëly Despende, in hopë [hope R, hop H.] men wol hym releue Whan his gode is despendid vtterly [vttirly R, viterly H.] ; The indigént men setten no þing by. Line 4359 I, Hoccleue, in swich [suche R, swich H.] case am gilty, þis me touchith, [See "am gilty / þis me touch / ith."] So seith pouert, which oon foole large him vouchith. [Hoccleve de seipso. [R. has Nota de prodigalitate Occleve.] (In a later hand.)]

(624)

¶ ffor þogh I neuer were of hy degree, Line 4362 Ne haddë [hade R, had H.] mochil gode ne gret richesse, Ȝit hath þe vice of prodigalite Smerted me sore, & done me hevynesse. He þat but litil hath, may done excesse Line 4366 In his degree, as wel as may þe riche, Thogh hir dispenses werë nat elyche. [be not eliche R, were not lyche H.] Line 4368

(625)

¶ So haue I plukked at my pursë [purses R, purs H.] strynges, Line 4369 And made hem often for to [for to R, for H.] gape & gane, Þat his smal stuf hath take hym to his wynges, And hath I-sworne to be my welthës bane, But if releef a-way my sorowe plane; Line 4373 And whens it comë shal, can I nought gesse, Mi lorde, but it procede of your hynesse. Line 4375

Line 4375

(626)

¶ I me repent of my mysrewly lyfe [See Hoccleve's 'Male Regle' in his Minor Poems, I, p. 25.] ; Line 4376 Wherfor, in þé wey of sauacïoun I hope I be; my dotage éxcessyfe Hath put me to swich castigacïoun, Þat indigence hath dominacïoun Line 4380 On me; o! had I help, now wolde I thryue, And so ne did [so did R.] I neuer ȝit in my lyue. Line 4382

(627)

¶ My yeerly guerdoun, myn annuite, [folio 77a] Line 4383 That was me graunted for my long labóur, Is al behynde, I may naght payëd be, Whiche causeth me to lyuen [lyue H, liue R.] in langour. O liberal prince! ensample of honour! Line 4387 Vnto your gracë lyke it to promoote Mi poore estat, and to my woo beth boote! Line 4389

(628)

¶ And, worþy prince, at cristës reuerence Line 4390 Herkeneth what I schal seyn, and be noght greued, But lat me stande in your beneuolence; ffor if myn hertës wil wiste were, and preeued, How yow to loue it stirëd is and meeved, Line 4394 Ye schulden knowe, y your honour and welþe Triste and desire, and eek your soulës helþe. Line 4396

(629)

¶ In al my book ye schul naght see ne fynde, Line 4397 That I youre dedës lakke, or hem despreise; But for I woldë þat ye hadde in mynde Swich thyng as your renoun myghte vp areyse, I write as my symple conceyt may peyse; Line 4401 And trustith wel, al þat my pennë seith, Proceedith of good herte and trewe, in feith. Line 4403

Line 4403

(630)

¶ What kyng þat dooth more éxcessif despenses [¶ Aristoteles de regimine, capitulo de vicio super|fluitatis. "O Alexander, firmiter dico tibi, quod quis rerum superflue con|tulerit domi|naciones, vl|tra quod reg|num suum possit suffi|cere, talis Rex procul dubio destruit & destruitur.'] Line 4404 Than his land may to suffice or atteyne, Schal be destruëd, after þe sentences Of Aristotle; he schal naght fle þe peyne. ffoolë [Foole R, Fool H.] largésse and avarice, þo tweyne, Line 4408 If þat a kyng eschue, & largë be, Reioyse he schal his rëal dignite. Line 4410

(631)

¶ How fool largesse a kyng destroyë may, [folio 77b] Line 4411 As blyuë wole I vnto yow declare: ffool largessë yeueþ so moche a-way, That it þe kyngës cofres makeþ bare, And þanne awakiþ poorë peples care; Line 4415 ffor al þat sche dispendid haþ & wastid, They moot releuë, therto be þey hastid. Line 4417

(632)

¶ The Tylere [tilyer R.] with his porë cote and land, Line 4418 That may vnnethës gete his sustenance, And he þat naght haþ but labóur of hand, Ben often put vnto ful smert nusance. Good is be-ware of goddës long suffrance; Line 4422 Thogh he to venge hym tarie, & be suffráble, Whan his strook cometh, it is importáble. Line 4424

(633)

¶ Naght speke I ageyn eidës [dysmes (tenths) R.] vttirly, Line 4425 In sum cas þey ben good and necessárie; But whan þey goon to custumáblely, The peple it makiþ for to curse and warie: And if þey ben despended in contrárie Line 4429 Of þat þey graunted of þe peple were, The morë grucchen þey þe cost to bere. Line 4431

Line 4431

(634)

¶ The pot so longë to þe watir goth, Line 4432 That hoom it cometh at þe laste y-broke. Whan þat þe peple, with a cherë loth, Hir purs y-emptid [purses empted R.] haue, & eek hir poke, Hem þynkith þat þey ouer nyh ben soke. Line 4436 What harm of þat to kynges haþ be-tid, Scripturës tellen; it may nought [nough H. It may not be be heled in no wise ne hidde R.] ben hid. Line 4438

(635)

¶ But fauel naght reportith tho scripturis; [folio 78a] [¶ ³ Aristoteles eodem capit|ulo.³ [3_3 For this, R. has: Deficientibus redditibus et expensis, Reges extenderunt manus suas ad res et redditus alienorum.] Subditi vero propter iniuriam cla|mauerunt ad deum ex|celsum & gloriosum.] Line 4439 His lordës soulë salue, he from hym [soules salve fro hym he R.] hydith; He besieth hym so in sly portraituris, Þat homly trouthë naght with hym abidith; The swetë venym of his tongë gydeth Line 4443 His lord vnto þe valeie of dirknesse, If he gouérne hym by his fykilnesse. Line 4445

(636)

¶ The trewë man, if he may apparceyue Line 4446 A défaute in his lord, as othir while It happith, he his lord it redith weyue, And bit hym to vertu hym reconsile; And yit fauel, þe net of fraude and gile, Line 4450 The þank hath, and þat othir þe maugree: O god! þat verray trouþe art for to see. Line 4452

(637)

¶ Who þat, fro [for R.] drede of any lord or syre, [¶ Augusti|nus. Quis|quis metu alicuius po|testatis veri|tatem occul|tat, iram dei super se pro|uocat, quia magis timet hominem quam deum. ¶ libere veri|tatem pre|dicantes & praue vite gesta argu|uentes, non habent gra|tiam apud homines, &c.] Line 4453 Hydeth þe trouthe, and naght wil it out seie, He vppon hym prouokith goddës yre, ffor þat he more of man than god [of man than god R, of god and man H.] hath eye. They þat þe trouthë of hir hertes bywreye Line 4457 To lordës, and telle hem hir wicked lyf, No grace in hem fynden for hir motyf. Line 4459

Line 4459

(638)

¶ But bet, for trouthe is to suffre turment, Line 4460 Than richëly enhauncëd be for glose. If þis lyf herë be naght wel dispent, [¶ Augusti|nus. Melius est pro veri|tate pati sup|plicium, quam adula|cione bene|ficium, &c.] I wot it wel, I wele it naght suppose, God wole his regnë from vs schitte [hide R.] & close. Line 4464 Here is þe way to peynë, or to blisse; Who so wel dooth, of yoye [ioye R.] he may naght misse.

(639)

Eternel god, the blessid trinite, [folio 78b] Line 4467 Whiche þat [that R, þa H.] euery man of cristen byleeue Knoweth an vndyuyded vnite, His mercy and his gracë kythe & preeue In yow, my lord; þat so your dedës cheeue Line 4471 As þat your soule, aftir þis lyf present, To heuene blisse vp may be take & hent. Line 4473

[§ 12.] De Vicio Auaricie. ['De vicio auaricie' is also in black in the margin, as a di|rection to the rubricator.]

(640)

Now go [go R, ga H.] we to þe Auericïous, [This page is illuminated.] Line 4474 To whom non hábundancë may suffice. A chynchë neuere can be plentevous Thogh al were his; swiche is his couetise; To thriste ay aftir more, it is his gyse; Line 4478 He is þe swolwe þat is neuere ful: At Auericë now haue here a pul. Line 4480

(641)

Sche may, as god forbede, vndo a [a R, om. H.] kyng Line 4481 Thurgh hire insaciable gredynesse. Hire herte is sette vppon non oþer þing But how sche may golde hepe; al in dirknesse Lurkith þe purchas of hire egrenesse; Line 4485 In bagges vndir lok, hir gold sche thristeth; Al to þe cofre it [it R, sche H.] goth, and al sche chistith. Line 4487

Line 4487

(642)

There is it hidde; no sonne it seeþ, ne moone; Line 4488 Thogh al þe world steruë schulde on a day ffor lak of good, naght were it for to done To borwe of hire; euere is hir answere nay; That sche naght haþ, also sche swerith ay. Line 4492 Hir nature is to kepe, and naght despende, [folio 79a] And hir desir of good ne hath non ende. Line 4494

(643)

¶ Auarice is a loue inmoderat, [¶ Scriptum est, Auaricia est amor im|moderatus adquirendi temporalia, & est pestis fere omnes homi|nes solicitans. Vnde pro|pheta ait Ieremie vj^o A maiori vs|que ad min|orem omnes student Auariciam &c. [R. adds: Avaricia est ydolorum servitus.] ] Line 4495 Richésses temporel for to purcháce; Sche besieth hir [desireth hye R.] in euerych estat; Sche shapith [shapeth R, shapit H.] hir al þe world to [to R, om. H.] embrace ffro [For R, Fro H.] þe morë to þe lessë; hir trace Line 4499 To suë, studien men, seith Ysaye, And sche þe thraldom is of Maumetrye. [mawmetrie R, Maumetye H.] Line 4501

(644)

¶ Sche is a couetysë éxcessyf Line 4502 Of othres good; & of hire ownë, sche So streit and hard is, and so rétentyf, That it profytë may in no degree. O auericïous, what eilith þee? Line 4506 Þe goodës whyichë [which þat R.] ben vnto þe lent, Why hydest þou? I-wis þou wilt be schent. Line 4508

(645)

¶ Weenest þou þat þou doost naght wickedly, Line 4509 Þat so many a manys sustenance Thi self wiþ-holdest soul [so R.] ? yis, hardily. Thow þat of richesse hast greet habundaunce, [¶ Iterum scriptum est Neque enim minus est criminis ha|benti tollere, quam cum possis & ha|bundans sis, indigentibus necessaria denegare.] And to þe nedy yeuest no pitaunce, Line 4513 No lesse offendist þou than he þat schakith Men out of hire good, and from hem it takith.

(646)

¶ Thus may thy stylë likned be to thefte; Line 4516 As a theef in þis world is hangid here, ffor good whiche þat he of þe peple refte, So schalt þou honge in helle, and bye it deere, But if so be, or þou goo to þi beere, Line 4520 Thow córrectë thy greedy appetyt, [folio 79b] And of streit kepynge emptë þy delyt. Line 4522

(647)

¶ The breed of hungry peple þou with-holdist, [¶ Item scrip|tum est. Esuriencium panis est quem tu de|tines; nu|dorum vesti|mentum est quod tu re|cludis.] Line 4523 And schutest vp the nakid mennës cloth That keuere hem sholde; if þou oght of god toldist, ffor to doo so, þou woldest be ful loth. Al þat þou getist, to hid place it goth. Line 4527 As many men, hir good þow hem byreuest [¶ Iterum scriptum est, Tantoium ergo te scias inuadere bona, quan|torum de pos|sessione tua poteris sub|uenire, & non vis. Prouerbia|rum xxvij. Qui odit aua|riciam, longi fient dies eius.] As þou releuë myghtest, and [and thou R.] it leuest. Line 4529

(648)

¶ Who so þat fro þe poorë mannës cry [R. has "Prov. xx^o. Qui obturat aurem suam ad clamorem pauperis, ipse clamabit, et non exaudietur."] Line 4530 Stoppith his erës, þogh he lowdë crye, Schal naght be herde; and more ouer, rede y, His dayës schulle encresse & multiplie That auerice hatith, þis is no lye. Line 4534 Werse is no þing þan [than R, þat H.] to loue moneye, [¶ Ecclesias|tici x. Nichil iniquius quam amare pecuniam.] As þat Ecclesiasticus can seye. Line 4536

(649)

¶ Ambrosë seith, war, man, þat þou ne schitte [¶ Ambrosius de officiis. Caueas ne in|tra loculos tuos includas salutem in|opum, & tan|quam in tu|milo ne sepe|lias vitam pauperum.] Line 4537 With-in þi purs þe nedy peples [peples R, peple H.] hele, And to þe buriellës naght committe The lyf of poorë men; ȝeue hem, & dele Part of þi good; o, þy baggës vnsele; Line 4541 Opne hem; hir knyttynge al to sore annoyeth; Thy pynëd stuf, many a man destroyeth. Line 4543

Line 4543

(650)

¶ Thow seist per cas, "yf I no man byreue Line 4544 His good, what wrong, myn owne is it to hyde And multiplie?" o, chynchë! by þi leue, What seist [seyest R.] þou is þin? what was þin, þat tyde Thow cam in-to þis world, þou homycide? Line 4548 Thow broghtist naght; claymë no propertee [folio 80a] [Scilicet tem|pore necesci|tatis R.] Of thing þat oghtë communë [oght comon R.] to be. Line 4550

(651)

¶ Thi talkinge and þi clap is al of erthe, [¶ Ysaie xix^o. de terra lo|queris & de humo audie|tur eloquium tuum propter amorem quem habes ad sordes. Luce xij. Cui multum da|tum est mul|tum queretur ab eo a deo & hominibus.] Line 4551 And þe ground for-þi schal answere the, ffor þat þe loue of muk sittith so neer þe. Of him þat hath of goodës gret plentee, Of god and man mochil axid schal be; Line 4555 Thow schalt be rekned with, heer-aftir, [there as a R.] chynche, Where as þou schalt not at þe acountës pynche.

(652)

¶ By what [what R, þat H.] title þat þou getist þi good, Line 4558 Thow countist naght þe value of a myte; Thyn hert is euermore on gold so wood, That no thing ellës canst þou in [in, om. H, That in no . . . thow R.] delite; Of conscïencë rekkist þou so lite, Line 4562 What goodis þat þou getist of rapyne, Þou hem affermest by good title þyne. Line 4564

(653)

¶ ffeith and prowessë, leist þou vndir foote, [¶ Salustius dicit: Aua|ricia fidem & probitatem subpeditat, & docet homi|nem in se habere super|biam & cru|delitatem.] Line 4565 And techist folk to haue in hem-self pride; And cruelte hath caght in þe swiche roote, That sche noght slippë may fro þe, ne slyde; And euery vertu throwest þou a-syde. Line 4569 O, euery prince and [and R, or H.] kyng moot ben eschu, In al maneere, of þi lym and þi glu. Line 4571

Line 4571

(654)

¶ ffor ellës is it light to vndirstonde, Line 4572 To euery man þat wit can & resoun, It is nat likly, á kyng for to stonde In his welthë but a litil sesoun, ffor Auaricë may ben énchesoun Line 4576 His peple to destroyen [distroien R, destoyen H.] and oppresse; [folio 80b] And, as I saydë, so may fool largesse. [H. wrongly puts st. 659 here, before sts. 655-8. R. puts st. 659 in its right place.] Line 4578

(655)

¶ ffool largesse is a sekenesse curable, Line 4579 Outhir of indigence, othir ellës [or elles of R.] age; [¶ Dicit idem philosophus, quod prodi|galitas est morbus cura|bilis, ab egestate vel etate.] He þat fool large in ȝouthe is, is ful able In eldë to abate it and aswage, ffor agid folk ben more in þe seruage Line 4583 Of auaricë þan ben folk in yowthe; And what I schal eek seyn, herkneth wel nowþe.

(656)

¶ Of nede eek may it curid ben, and helid; [¶ Auaricia est morbus incurabilis, vt idem dicit.] Line 4586 A man may so largë despenses make, Til al is good be díspendid and delid; And whan his purs y-emptid is, and schake, Than, begynneþ indigence a-wake, Line 4590 By whiche he cured is of þe seekenesse Of prodigalitee, or fool [foole R, ful H.] largesse. Line 4592

(657)

¶ But auarice, he seith, incurable is; Line 4593 ffor ay þe more a man þerin procedith And wexith olde, so mochil more I-wys, He auaricious is; in him naght breedith But thoght [thought R, toght H.] and woo, for ay his hertë dreedith Line 4597 His good to leese; and morë for to hepe [folio 81a] His thoghtës stirten heere & þere, and lepe. Line 4599

Line 4599

(658)

¶ Now if þe heed of al a regioun, Line 4600 By whom þat al gouérned is and gyed, Be of so seekly a condicïoun, That it may by no curë be maistryed, Thanne is he to þe wersë part applied; Line 4604 And as the philosofre seith vs to, The lessë wikke is fool largesse of two. Line 4606

(659)

¶ The philosofre preeueth Auarice [¶ Respice in Egidio de regimine principum: 'probat phi|losophus iiij^to ethicorum, iij^o racione, quod auaricia peior est pro|digalitate. [R adds] primo enim melius est infirmari morbo cura|bili quam incurabili.] Line 4607 Wel wersë þan is prodigalite: By thre causes he halt it gretter vice: ffirst, he seith, it is better seek to be, Of a sekenesse or infirmite Line 4611 Of whiche a man may haue rekeueryng, Þan of swiche on as þer is non helyng. Line 4613

(660)

¶ The seconde cause is, prodigalitee [folio 83(81)a] [¶ Secundo, probat quod prodigalitas est magis propinqua virtuti quam Auaricia, nam liberalis non libenter recipit, sed libenter dat, quorum vtrumque fa|cit prodigus;] Line 4614 Is morë ny to vertu many del Than Auerice; and why, ye schul wele see: He þat is liberal, naght list so wel ffor to receyue any good or catell Line 4618 As yeuë, but what man þat is fool large To take and yeuë, yeueth he no charge. Line 4620

(661)

¶ Wherfore he seiþ, þere is no difference [non ergo differt prodi|gus a liber|alitate, nisi quod prodi|gus non dat vt debet, & quibus debet, nec cuius gratia debet,] Line 4621 Twixt [Twixit H, Betwixt foole large R.] fool largesse and liberalitee, Sauf þe fool largë, óf his imprudénce, Of his dispenses is to dislauee, [See Hoccl. Min. Poems I.] And yeueth there as oghtë naght to be; Line 4625 And for what cause also, and for what skile He yeuë schal, non hede he takë wile. Line 4627

Line 4627

(662)

¶ And syn fool large, on gold settiþ his herte [quare cum prodigus non sit amator pecunie sicut nec liberalis, de facili pro|digus fieri possit liber|alis &c.] Line 4628 No morë þan þe liberal, þan may ffool large into liberalite [liberalitee R, liberte H. (Scan 'libér / ali / te').] sterte lightly ynow. [ynough R, now H.] for vertu is kynges pray, He Auerice eschuë mot alway, Line 4632 By causë sche more is contrarious [folio 81b] To vertu, þan the large outragëous. Line 4634

(663)

¶ The þriddë skile is, for a kyng is set [[R] Tercio, quia rex est positus in regno prop|ter salutem regni, & vt prosit hijs qui in regno sunt; auarus autem nulli prodest.] Line 4635 In his remë for his peples [peples ese and R.] releef, ffor þey schulden for hym fare þe bet; But þe streyt chynchë qwencheþ neuere greef; His gold is neuere saluë to myschef; Line 4639 Only to gadre and kepe, he hym delitith; But þe fool largë, many man profitith; Line 4641

(664)

¶ Yit vices ben þey gretë bothë tweyne. [[R] Idem dicit quod largitas est ad similitudi|nem vaso|rum; vasa enim haben|cia os largum, abunde emit|tunt quod in eis est.] Line 4642 O! worþy princë, take on yow largesse; Dooth so, o gracious lord, for goddës peyne! Largesse I-put is vnto þe liknesse Of vessels, whos mouthës han gret wydnesse, Line 4646 And hilde out hir licóur habundantly; Thus seith þe philosofre trewëly. Line 4648

(665)

¶ And in as mochil as a welle also, [[R] Cumergo tanto deceat fontem ha|bere largum os, quanto ex eo plures participare debent, tanto decet regem largiorem esse, &c.] Line 4649 At þe whiche many folk hir water fecche, Nedith to han the larger mouth; right so The largesse of a kyng moot ferþer strecche, If he of his estat any þing recche, Line 4653 Than oþer mennës; for hir [hir, om. H R.] impotence Strecchiþ naght so fer as his influence. Line 4655

Line 4655

(666)

¶ Largesse is 'liberalitee' y-callid, Line 4656 And likned is vnto hem þat ben free; But he þat auaricious is, is thrallid To moneie. a kyng moot algatës flee A chynchës hertë, for his honeste Line 4660 And for þe profyte, as I seide aboue, [folio 82a] Of his peple, if he þynke wynne here loue. Line 4662

(667)

¶ Victorie and honour, he schal hym purcháse [¶ Prouerbi|arum xxij. Victoriam & honorem ad|quiret qui dat munera. Item: ne dicas amico tuo 'vade & reuertere, & cras dabo tibi,' cum statim possis dare.] Line 4663 That is of yiftës fre; but war alway That he naght tarye ne delaye his grace; Dryue it noght forth vnto anoþer day, Whan, if hym list, anon he yeuë may; Line 4667 Yeue it as blyue, hys þank is wel þe more; This vouche I on holy scripturës lore. Line 4669

(668)

¶ The vertu is of liberalitee, [¶ De virtute liberalitatis.] Line 4670 Yeue and dispende, in place and in tyme [n tyme and place R.] due; Right as largessë dooth in swiche degree, They bothë moot in hir conseytes chue Where is good yeue, [to yeue R.] and wherë to eschue, Line 4674 The persone, and þe somme, and causë why: What þey [ye R.] yeuen, yeue it vertuously. Line 4676

(669)

¶ But it naght longeth to þe liberal Line 4677 To yeue hym good þat vseþ flaterie; His menynge and his éntencïoun final On fals plesance, is set for briberie; He is þe verray cofre of treccherie; Line 4681 His doublenesse his lord doun ouerthroweþ; The seed of his confusïoun he soweþ. Line 4683

Line 4683

(670)

¶ That man I-born is in a blissed hour, [¶ Nota quod laudandus est ille quem pietas mouet reuelamen prestare indi|genti: nota bene hic!] Line 4684 Whom þat pitee, dissert, or kyndënesse, Stiren to yeue, or mynystre hym socour, That infortunës strokës bitternesse I-woundid hath wiþ pouertes scharpnesse [sikenesse R.] : Line 4688 Nat mene I hem þat [Nought yeue hem R.] hire, and fees and wages, [folio 82b] Hath [Hat H, That han R.] at þe dees loost, and [dice lost.] hir heritáges; Line 4690

(671)

¶ But þo þat men welthy han [han R, and H.] ben byfore, Line 4691 And vertuous ben, and han hir goodë [goode R, good H.] lost, And can not beggë, to be deed þerfore; On hem ful wel bystowëd is þe cost. But welaway! as harde as is a post— Line 4695 A post? nay, as a stoon—ben hertës now! Lordës, for schamë! what þing eyleth yow? Line 4697

(672)

¶ A gentil hertë, for to begge haþ schame; Line 4698 His rody schamfastnessë dar not preye. Ye þat of gentillesse han stile & name, Lat nat your poorë bretheren by yow deye! Se vnto hem, thogh þey nat speke or seie. Line 4702 Is pitee fro yow fled? calle hir agayn! ffor hir absence haþ many good man slayn. Line 4704

(673)

¶ Senek seith, hé haþ nat þat þing for noght, Line 4705 That byeth it by speche and by prayere. There is no thyng þat is in eerthë wroght, As þat he seith, þat is y-bought so deere; It standith streytë, whan it schal apere, Line 4709 ffor it is vois of wrecchidnesse and sorwe, Whan þat a man schal praye, or begge, or borwe.

(674)

¶ Allas! þogh [though R, þoght H.] þat a man disceuere & pleyne Line 4712 To many a lord his méscheuous myserie, The lord naght deyneth vndirstonde his peyne; He settith noght þerby a blakberie. Welthe in þe lordës sayl bloweþ ful merye; Line 4716 But the nedy berith his sail so lowe, [folio 83a] That no wynd of comfórt may in hit blowe. Line 4718

(675)

¶ Of liberalitee yit forthermore [¶ Hic caueant capitanei, quod non retineant vadia.] Line 4719 I tellë wole, as þat I haue herd seyn Amongës wysë folk, gon is ful yore. What man a ledere is, or a chiefteyn Of peple, his labour is al wast and veyn, Line 4723 But he be fre vnto his sowdëours, If þat he sekë conquest of [or R.] honours. Line 4725

(676)

¶ And specialy þat he hir duëtee Line 4726 Abriggë naght, ne naght syncope hir wages That hem assigned ben: in certeyntee, Peril of schamë folwen swiche vságes. Whan al a-counted is, tho auantáges Line 4730 That founded ben of wrong and on repreef, Ben naght but auantáges of mescheef. Line 4732

(677)

¶ This makith couetise or Auarice Line 4733 Roote of al harmës, fo to conscïence; Of wikked purchas is sche Emperice, And mochil hath, and ay haþ indigence. Sho rather wil lyuen [live R, lyue H.] in abstinence Line 4737 Of mete and drynkë, for hertës scantnesse, Than for þe soule or bodyes holsumnesse. Line 4739

Line 4739

(678)

¶ Prince excellent! so moot ye wirke and wilne [wille R.] Line 4740 As may your soulës helthë [helthe R, helth H.] edifie; And a-mong othir þingës, þat your wilne [wille R.] Be infecte wiþ no wrecched chyncherie. Largesse mesúrable vnto yow tye, Line 4744 And fool largessë voydeth fro yow clene [folio 83b] ffor free largessë is a vertuous mene. Line 4746

[§ 13.] De regis prudencia.

(679)

Now, gracious princë, lyke it yow to wyte [This page is illuminated.] Line 4747 That touche I thynke of a kyngës prudence, As þat I ther-of fynde in bookës write. Prudence is callid wit and sapience, And needës moot rëal magnificence Line 4751 Be prudent, as þat þé scripture vs lereth, If he schal ben as his estate [estate R, state H.] requerith. Line 4753

(680)

Prudence, attemperancë, strengthe, and right, Line 4754 Tho fourë ben vertuës principal [These are the Four Moral Virtues, as contrasted with the Seven Cardinal ones. In "Jacob's Well" (man's conscience) Salisbury Cathedral MS. 103, lf. 215 bk., col. 2, the writer says "I teld ȝou þis welle muste be made foure sqware with iiij vertuys, þat is, with a-vysement, & tempure, & gostly myȝt, & with ryȝtfulnes."] ; Prudencë gooth by-fore, and ȝeueth light Of counseil, what þo other thre do schal, That þey may wirkë, be it greet or smal, Line 4758 Aftir hir reed, wiþ-outen whom no man Wel vnto god, né þe world lyuë can. Line 4760

(681)

Prudence is vertu of entendëment; Line 4761 She makith man by resoun him gouérne. Who-so þat list to be wys and prudént, And þe light folwe wole of hir lanterne, he mostë caste his look [looke R, book H.] in euery herne Line 4765

Line 4765 Of þyngës past, and ben, & þat schul be: The endë seeþ, and eek mesúreth, sche. Line 4767

(682)

There is no wight þat sche schapiþ disceyue, Line 4768 And, thogh men casten hem [men casten hem R, man cast hym H.] hire to begile, [folio 84a] Naght wole it be; by wit sche wole it weyue. Eek sche obserueth so wele trouthës style, And þerto can so wel her tonge affyle, Line 4772 That, lest þe fauour of frendschipës corde, Othir þan trouthë can sche not recorde. Line 4774

(683)

¶ Sche bý-heetith by good avisëment, Line 4775 And ȝeueth morë þan hir list promette; Scho yeueth tó men eek commandëment 'Naght in fortune truste, or by hir sette; And al þe truste, out of hir hertë schette, Line 4779 Of myght of worldly dominacïoun:' Vertu gyeth hir operacïoun. Line 4781

(684)

¶ Prudence hath leuer louëd be þan drad; Line 4782 Ther may no prince in his estate endure, Ne ther-yn any whilë standë [endure R.] sad, But he be louëd; fór loue is armure Of seurëte. o! take on yow þe cure, Line 4786 Excellent princë, louë to embrace, And þan your herte is sette in siker place. Line 4788

(685)

¶ Now, if þat ye graunten by your patente Line 4789 To your seruauntës a yeerly guerdoun, Crist scheeldë þat your wil or your entente Be sette to maken [make H R.] a restriccioun [retraccioun R.] Of paiëment; for þat condicïoun Line 4793 Exileþ þé peples beneuolence, And kyndeleþ hate vndir priue scilence. Line 4795

Line 4795

(686)

¶ Beeth wel avisëd, or your graunt out go, Line 4796 ¶ How ye þat chargë may performe and bere; [folio 84b] Whan it is past, obserue it wel also, ffor ellës wole it yow annoye and dere; ffor your honur it muchel bettre were, Line 4800 No graunt to graunt at al, þan þat your graunt Yow preeue a brekere of a couenaunt. Line 4802

(687)

¶ He þat is louëd, men drede hym offende; Line 4803 But he þat drad, & naght by-louëd is, As Tullïus seith, lightly may descende, And þe lordschipë leesë þat was his; And Senek also seith as [as, om. H R.] touchyng þis, Line 4807 The sogett hateth whom he haþ in drede; And hate is hard, if it his venym schede. Line 4809

(688)

¶ Was neuere dredë yit a good wardeyn, Line 4810 To holdë lordschepe in his sikernesse, But only loue is þing most souereyn; Loue is norice of welþe and of gladnesse, But out of louë spryngeþ ferdfulnesse, Line 4814 And feere is good, whiche þat on loue hym groundeth, But othir feerë naght heliþ, but woundeth. Line 4816

(689)

¶ Louë, withouten a good gouernaille, Line 4817 A kyng haþ non; for thogh men no word seye, If he his peple oppresse, it is no faile They loue hym noght, in no manere of weie; They may his hestës outward wel obeie, Line 4821 But in hir hertes is smal obediaunce, And vnto god þey cómpleyne hir grevaunce. Line 4823

Line 4823

(690)

¶ And swich a kyng is naght prudent ne wys, Line 4824 ¶ That of his peple purchaseth hym hate, [folio 85a] ffor loue excedith al tresour in prys; So hath it ben, and so be wole algate. Whan þat richésses ebben & abbate, Line 4828 If loue endurë, it may hym restore, And loue is goten by prudénces [prudences R, prudentes H.] lore. Line 4830

(691)

¶ By wise conseil, settith your hy estat Line 4831 In swhiche an ordre as ye lyuë may Of your good propre, in reule moderat; Is it knyghtly lyue on rapynë? nay! ffor Cristës sakë, so yow gyeth ay, Line 4835 As þat may strecchë to your peples ese, And þerwith-al ye schul god hily plese. Line 4837

(692)

¶ It apparteneth a kyng for to be [¶ Egidius in ij^a parte j. libri politi|corum: Aris|toteles ad Re|gem maxime spectat vt sit rex secun|dum rei veri|tatem.] Line 4838 A kyng in verray soth and éxisténce. A kyng, of office and of dignite The name is; he moot don his diligence His peple for to gyë by prudénce; Line 4842 ffor þat he rule hem schuldë duëly, The stile of a 'kyng' he berith certeynly. Line 4844

(693)

¶ As an archer may naght his arwe schete [¶ Eodem ca|pitulo: sicut sagittator non potest sagittam sufficienter dirigere in signum, nisi ipsum sig|num viderit, sic nec Rex &c.] Line 4845 Euene at a merk, bút he þe merk see, No morë may a kyng, I yow byhete, Gouerne his peple in rigth [right H.] and equitee, But by prudénce he reule his hyghe degree; Line 4849 If þat be wel, his peple hath sikernesse Of reste and pees, welþe, ioyë, and gladnesse. Line 4851

Line 4851

(694)

¶ Bygynnynge of wisdom is, god to drede; [¶ Inicium sapiencie, timor domini.] Line 4852 What kyng þat dredith god, is good and iust [folio 85b] To his peple; beeþ swiche, my lord, I rede! In [In R, I H.] loue and in awe of god, ficcheþ your lust; Than be ye wys, and þan yow needës must, Line 4856 Aftir your worldly sceptre transitórie, In heuene regne in pérpetuel glorie. Line 4858

[§ 14.] De consilio habendo in omnibus factis.

(695)

Now purpose I, to trete how to a kyng [This page is illuminated.] Line 4859 It nedeful is to do by consail ay; With-outen whiche, good is he do no þing; ffor a kyng is but a man soul, parfay! And be [be R, he H.] his witt neuere so good, he may Line 4863 Erre and mistake hym oþer while among, Where-as good counsail may exclude a [all R.] wrong.

(696)

Excellent princë, in axynge of reed, Line 4866 Descouereþ naght your wille in no maneere; What þat ye þinkë doo, lat it be deed As for þe tymë, lat no word appere; But what euery man seith, wel herkne & here; Line 4870 And yit whan good counsail is yeuen yow, What ye do wolë, kepe it close y-now Line 4872

(697)

Til þat yow lykë párforme it in dede; Line 4873 And if it schal be don, lat it noght tarie, ffor þat is perillous with-outë drede; Ther is no þing may make a lond myscarie Morë than swiche delay; ful necessárie Line 4877 It is, a gode purpos parforme as bliue, [folio 86a] As, if it naght be, [And that ye not R.] out of mynde it dryue. Line 4879

Line 4879

(698)

¶ And if þat á man of symple degree, Line 4880 Or pore of birth, or ȝonge, be wel conseile, [be, goode counseile Yow yeve R.] Admytte his resoun and take it in gre: Why naght, my godë lorde? what shuld yow eyle? But men do naght so; where-of I merueyle; Line 4884 Þe worlde fauórith ay þe richës sawe, Þow þat his conseil be noght worth an hawe. Line 4886

(699)

¶ What he seith, is vp to þe clowdës bore; [¶ Ecclesias|tici xiiij^o diues locutus est, & omnes tacuerunt, & verbum illius vsque ad nu|bes perdu|cunt: pauper locutus est, & dicunt, 'quis est hic?' &c.] Line 4887 But and þe porë spekë worth þe twey, His seed naght spryngë [spryng H R.] may, it nys but lore; Thei seyen, "what is he, þis? lat hym goo pley! O! worthi princë, beth wel ware, I prey, Line 4891 Þat your hye dygnite and sad prudénce No desdein haue [haue R, om. H.] of þe porës senténce. Line 4893

(700)

¶ Thogh men contrárie eek your óppynyoun, Line 4894 Þei may, per cas, conseilë [counceile R, conseil H.] yow þe best; Also ye ben at your eleccioun To doo or leuë, as your seluen lyst. If it be gode, impresse it in þe chest Line 4898 Of your memórie, and excusith it [execute R] ; If it naght be, to leue it, is a wyt. Line 4900

(701)

¶ And if yow list your cónseilere to preue, Line 4901 Ye feynë mot ye haue necessite Of golde; and if he sterë yow, and meeue, Your Iewels ley in weddë, [wedde R, wed H.] certeyn he Loueth your éstate and prosperite; Line 4905 But he þat redith yow, your peple oppresse, [folio 86b] He hatheth [hateth R.] yow, certéyne, it is no lesse. Line 4907

Line 4907

(702)

¶ And if a man, in tyme of swich a nede, Line 4908 Of his goode ȝeuë yow a goode substaunce, Swich oon cherich, and ellës [Suche non cherissheth and elles R, els H.] god forbede, Konneth hym þank of his goode cheuesaunce, ffor him is leuer to suffre penaunce Line 4912 Him-self, þan þat your peple shuldë [shulde R, shuld H.] smert; Ther is a preef of trewë louyng hert. Line 4914

(703)

¶ In auxenge [axyng R.] eeke of reed, ware of fauel; Line 4915 Also ware [beware R.] of þe auaricïouse; [¶ Non exiga|tur consilium ab adulatore nec de auaro.] ffor none of þo two can conseilë [counceille R, conseil H.] wel; Hir reed & conseil is envenymouse; Þei bothë [bothe R, bot H.] ben of golde so désirous, Line 4919 Þei rekkë naght what bryge [brike R.] her lorde be Inne, So þat þei mowen golde & siluyr wynne. Line 4921

(704)

¶ And if your conseil which þat ye haue take, Line 4922 Vnto þe knowlech or þe audience Of your foos comen be, þan lat it slake, And witterly putte it in abstinence; ffor execute it were an [and H (it/it were grete prudence R!).] inprudence; Line 4926 In swich a caas, is wisdam it to chaunge; Goode is, your conseil be to your foes straunge.

(705)

¶ Conseil may wel be likend to a bridil, [¶ Scriptum est, quod consilium bene potest freno com|parari.] Line 4929 Which þat an hors vpkepeth fro fallyng, If man do by conseil; but al in Idel Is reed, if [yf R, of H.] man naght folwe it in wirkyng. Do no þing redeles, do by conseylyng Line 4933 Of hedës wyse, and than [than R, om. H.] noo répentaunce [¶ Sine con|silio nichil facias, & post factum non penitebis.] Þer folwe yow schal in your gouernaunce. [folio 87a] Line 4935

Line 4935

(706)

¶ Comméndable is, conséil take óf þe wyse, [¶ Thobie 4^o. Consilium semper a sa|piente per|quire, & non a fatuo, &c. ¶ Scriptum est, Cum fa|tuis non ha|beas consili|um, quia nou possunt dili|gere nisi quod eis placet. ¶ Iterum Thobie 4^o. Omnia con|silia tua in deo perma|neant, &c. ¶ Scriptum est, Cum bo|nis fac tuum consilium, non cum impiis, &c. ¶ Prouerbia|rum 12^o. con|silia impior|um fraudu|lenta. ¶ 3^o Regum 12^o. Ad Ro|boam dixer|unt Iuuenes qui nutriti erant cum eo, 'sic loqueris ad eos; Mini|mus digitus meus est grossior dor|so patris mei; & nunc pater meus posuit super vos iu|gum graue, ego autem addam super iugum ves|trum; pater mens cecidit vos flagellis, ego autem cedam vos scorpionibus.'] Line 4936 And noght of foolës, for þei may noght loue But [But R, And H.] swich þing as hem likyth. in al wyse, Your conseiler, chesith our lorde god a-boue; Chesith eke godë men; ánd awey shoue Line 4940 The wykkyd, whos conseyl is déceyuáble; Þus byddyth holy writ, it is no fable. Line 4942

(707)

¶ Chesith men eke of olde experience; Line 4943 Hir wit and intellect is gloriouse; Of hir conseil, holsome is þe sentence; Þe oldë mannës rede is fructuouse; Ware of yong cónseyl, it is perilouse; Line 4947 Roboas fonde it so, whan he forsoke Oldë conseil, and to þe yong hym toke. Line 4949

(708)

¶ The éntente, wot I wele, of þe yong man Line 4950 As louyng is and trewe, as of the olde, Þogh þat he noght so wele conseilen can. Yong men, strong ben, hardy, and bolde, And more weldy to fight, if þat þei sholde; Line 4954 But aske [aske R, þow H.] þe olde in tyme of pees or werre Rede & conseil; it schal naght be þe werre. Line 4956

(709)

¶ He þat is fressh and lusty now þis day, Line 4957 By lengthe of yerees shal no þing be so; ffresshnesse & lust may naght endure al-wey; Whan age is comen, he commaundeth, ho! But lat see, who considereth þis two, [who R.] Line 4961 Goode is þat agë sette a gouernayle, [folio 87b] And youthe it sue: thus may al avayle. Line 4963

Line 4963

(710)

Excellent prince, eeke on the holydayes [¶ Mandatum est, sabata sanctifices.] Line 4964 Beth warë þat ye nat your conseilles holde; As for tho tymës, [the tyme R.] put hem in deleyes; Thenketh wel this, ye wel apayed be nolde If your soggettes not be your hestës [by your hest R.] tolde, Line 4968 Right so our lorde god, kyng & commaundour Of kynges al, [alle R.] is wroth with þat errour. Line 4970

(711)

¶ In þe longe ȝere be werkë daye [ben werke dayes R.] I-nowe, Line 4971 If þei be wel despent, for to entende To conseilës [counceiles R, conseils H.] : to god your hertë [hert H R.] bowe, If ye desire men hir hertës bende To yow. What kyng nat dredeth god offende, Line 4975 Ne naght rekkéth do hym desóbeisaunce, He shal be disobeiëd eeke perchaunce. [perchaunce R, perchaunche H.] Line 4977

(712)

¶ The firstë fyndere of our faire langáge, Line 4978 Hath seyde in caas sembláble, & othir moo, So hyly wel, þat it is my dotáge ffor to expresse or touche any of thoo. Alasse! my fadir fro þe worlde is goo— Line 4982 My worthi maister Chaucer, hym I mene— Be þou aduóket for hym, heuenes [heuen R.] quene! Line 4984

(713)

¶ As þou wel knowest, o blissid virgyne, Line 4985 With louyng hert, and hye deuocïoun In þyne honour he wroot ful many a lyne; O now þine helpe & þi promocïoun, To god þi sonë make a mocïoun, Line 4989 How he þi seruaunt was, maydén marie, [folio 88a] And lat his louë [soule R.] floure and fructifie. Line 4991

Line 4991

(714)

¶ Al-þogh his lyfe be queynt, þe résemblaunce [In the MS. Chaucer's carefully drawn and colourd likeness is in the right margin. At the top of the much commoner full-length figure in the left margin of MS. Reg. 17 D 6, is "¶ Chaucers yn age."] Line 4992 Of him haþ in me so fressh lyflynesse, Þat, to putte othir men in rémembraunce Of his persóne, I haue heere his lyknesse Do makë, to þis ende in sothfastnesse, Line 4996 Þat þei þat haue of him lest [lost R.] þought & mynde, By þis peynturë may ageyn him fynde.

[figure]

[Grass-green background, black hood and gown, gray hair, hazel eyes, red lips, paleish face and hands; black beads and penner on red strings.]

Line 4998

(715)

¶ The ymages þat in þe chirchë been, Line 4999 Maken folk þenke on god & on his seyntes, Whan þe ymáges þei be-holden & seen; Were oft vnsyte [Wher as vnsight R.] of hem causith restreyntes Of þoughtës godë: whan a þing depeynt is, Line 5003 Or éntailëd, if men take of it heede, Thoght of þe lyknesse, it wil in hem [hem R, hym H.] brede. Line 5005

Line 5005

(716)

¶ Yit somme holden oppynÿoun, and sey, Line 5006 Þat none ymáges schuld I-maked be: Þei erren foule, & goon ont of þe wey; Of trouth haue þei scant sensibilite. Passe ouer þat: now, blessid trinite, Line 5010 Vppon my maistres soulë, mercy haue, ffor him, lady, eke þi mercy I craue. Line 5012

(717)

¶ More othir þing, wolde I fayne speke & touche Line 5013 Heere in þis booke; but such [such R, schuch H.] is my dulnesse— ffor þat al voyde and empty is my pouche,— Þat al my lust is queynt with heuynesse, And [An R.] heuy spirit cómaundith stilnesse. Line 5017 And haue I spoke of pees, I schal be stille; [folio 88b] God sende vs pees, if þat it be his wille. Line 5019

[§ 15. OF PEACE.]

(718)

Touche I wol heere, of pees, a worde or two, [This page is illuminated] [¶ Scriptum est, Qui am|plectitur pa|cem in mentis hospicio ⁴ mansionem preparit Christo, &c.⁴ [4_4 added in R.] leronimus: Qui sine pace est, christum non habet. apud christi|anos non qui patitur sed qui facit con|tumeliam miser est.] Line 5020 As þat scripturës maken mencïoun, And [And R, An H.] þan my boke is endid al, and do. To crist ordeyneþ he a mancïoun, Which in his hertës habitacïoun Line 5024 Embraceth pees. wher pees is, crist is there, ffor crist nat lyst a-byden ellës-where. [elleswhere R, els where H.] Line 5026

(719)

A-mongës cristen folk, wreche is he none [Prouerbia|rum 12^o. Qui pacis ineunt consilia, se|quitur eos gaudium. Ciprianus dicit, Sacri|ficium deo est pax nos|tra & fraterna concordia.] Line 5027 Þat pacïéntly suffreth a duresse; But sikirly a wrecchë [wrecche R, wrecch H.] is he one Þat makiþ strife; & hym sueth gladnesse Which þat of pees conséilith þe suernesse. [swetnesse R.] Line 5031 Our pees also and concorde brothirly Is sacrificë to god ál myghty. Line 5033

Line 5033

(720)

Thyngës þat leden men to pees be thre: [¶ Scriptum est, Tria sunt pacis subsidia & ad pacem ducencia, scilicet con|formitas in deo, humilitas in seipso, & tranquillitas cum proximo, &c.] Line 5034 Conformyng in god; in our self humblesse; And with [with R, wit H.] our neighëboures tranquillite. ffirst seye I þat we moot our willës dresse, And hem conformen allë more & lesse Line 5038 To goddis wil; al þingis [all thyng R.] is in his myght, Sauf only þat he máy done non vnright. Line 5040

(721)

Euene as a man is euer in werre and strife, Line 5041 Þat besieth hym withstande a man, which he ¶ Nat may; right so hathe he peisible [pesible R, preisible H.] lyfe [folio 89a] Continuelly, whos willës fully be To goddës wille conformyng: o, pardee! [[R] Iob iiij ^to Quis resistit Deo, et pacem habuit? quasi diceret nullus.] Line 5045 A-geyn god helpeth þere no résistence, So strong and myȝty is his excellence. [residence R.] Line 5047

(722)

¶ Humilite, to pees eke may men lede; Line 5048 Men say two gretë may nat [grete may evill R, gret may nat H.] in o sak; But symple humblesse is of such [such R, schuch H.] godely-hede, Þat she of troubly hatë haþ no smak; She stryueth nat; of discorde hath she lak; Line 5052 She voyde and empty is of cruelte: Humble spirit desirith vnite. Line 5054

(723)

¶ The thrid is eke tranquillite of þought, Line 5055 Þat gydeth man to pees; for as a wight May in a bedde of þornës restë [rest H R.] noght, Riȝt so, who [who þat H, he that R.] is with greuous þoughtës twight, May with himself nor [nor R, non H.] othir folk a-riȝt Line 5059 Hauë no pees; a man mot nedys smert Whan irous þoughtës occupye his hert. Line 5061

Line 5061

(724)

¶ And euene as vppon a pillow softe, Line 5062 Man may him restë [rest H R.] wele, and take his ese, Riȝt so þat lorde þat sittith in heuen a-lofte, Hertë [Hert H R.] peisible can so like and plese, Þat he wol entre þér-in, and it sese, Line 5066 And occupie it as iust póssessoure; [¶ Scriptum est, In pace factus est locus eius, &c. [R] Est enim pax mala, que est vere paci contra|ria; & hoc est quando corda sunt in mala concor|dancia, &c. Talem pacem habuit Pila|tus cum Herode, &c. ¶ De tali pace loquitur psalmista, Zelam super iniquos pa|cem pecca|torum videns.] In place of pees, resteth our savïour. Line 5068

(725)

¶ But al an othir pees þer is also, Line 5069 Which is naght worth; it is envenymouse; ffor it is vnto verray pees a foo; [folio 89b] Whan [Whan R, Wham H.] men in a purpós malicïouse Acorden, þát pees is to god greuous: Line 5073 Swich pees was twix Heródes & pilat; And in swich caas, pees is wers þanne debat. Line 5075

(726)

¶ A feynëd pees, eeke is to pees verray, Line 5076 A foo; and swich was þe pees of Iudas Kissyng crist. Lord! whedir þat þis day Any swich pees vsëd is as [as R, os H.] þat was! Ȝe, so I drede me, by seynt Thomas, Line 5080 The kus of Iudas is now widë sprad,⁵ Tokenes of pees ben, but smal loue is had.⁵ [5_5 spradde . . hadde R, sparde . . had H.] Line 5082

(727)

¶ Men contrefete in wordis Tullïus, Line 5083 And folwe in werke Iudas or Genyloun [The traitor at Roncesvalles. See Chaucer's Monk's Tale, Pedro of Spayne.] ; Many an hony [hony R, heny H.] worde and many a kus Ther is; but wayte on þe conclusïoun, [¶ Et de tali pace loquitur psalmista. Qui loquun|tur pacem cum proximo suo, mala autem, &c.] And pryue galle all turnyth vp-so-doun; Line 5087 Ther leueth naght of pees, but contenance, ffor al þe peyntyd chere and daliance. Line 5089

Line 5089

(728)

¶ Ther is also a pees inordinat, Line 5090 Whan þe grettér obeith to þe lesse; As [As R, And H.] þus, whan to his soget a prelat Obeyeth; and whan reson, þe blyndnesse Sueth of sensualitees madnesse, Line 5094 Obeying it: al swich pees is haynous, ffor it is goodë [to god. R.] pees contrarious. Line 5096

(729)

¶ Right swich a pees, Adam had with Eue, Line 5097 Whan þat he vnto hir desire obeyde; He was, per caas, adraddë [adredde R, adrad H.] for to greue; [folio 90a] Where-for he did as þat she to [as that she R, at þat she H.] hym seide: [¶ Contra talem pacem loquitur christus, Matthaei 10. Non veni, inquit, pacem mittere, sed gladium. &c.] In þat obediencë he foleyde, Line 5101 ffor god hir him bytoke him to obeye; But I a-drad am þat I þus fer seye [ferre sey R, fer seide H.] ; Line 5103

(730)

¶ If þat þis come vnto the audience Line 5104 Of women, I am sure I shal be shent: ffor þat I touche of swich obedience, Many a browë shal on me be bent; Thei willë wayten been [wolden waite to ben R, wil . . . H.] equipollent, Line 5108 And sumwhat morë, vnto hir housbondis, [husbondis R, housbond (es scratcht out) H.] And sum men seyn swich vsage in þis lond is. [lond is R, lond(es scratcht out) H.]

(731)

¶ And it no wonder is, as semeth me, Line 5111 Whan þat I me be-þought haue al aboute, Þogh þat womén desiren souereynte, And hir housbondës makë to hem loute; Thei made ware of a ribbe, it is no doute, [¶ Genesis 20. Mulier facta fuit de costa Ade; homo vero de limo terre, &c.] Line 5115 Which more strong is, and súbstancial, Þan slyme of eerthe, & clenner þer-with-al. Line 5117

Line 5117

(732)

¶ Wher-for it semeth þat þe worthynesse Line 5118 Of women, passyth mennës encerteyne; And ȝit sum nysë men, of lewdënesse, [lewdenesse R, lewenes H.] In répref of hem holden ther-a-geyn, ffor crokid was þat ribbe; and speke & seyne, Line 5122 That also crokid is hir curtaisie; But a-gayn þat, strongly wil I replie; Line 5124

(733)

ffor in the writyng and in þe scripture Line 5125 Of Philosophers, [Philosofres R, Philosophes H.] men may see & reede, ¶ Cercly [Cerclelyk R.] shap is most perfite figúre, [folio 90b] [¶ Secundum omnes phi|losophos, ffigura circu|laris est per|fectissima figura, & significat in geometria vnitatem.] Bi-tokenyng, in gémetrie, onhede; And crokydnesse a part is, þat may lede Line 5129 Sumwhat vnto [vnto (overline,? later) R, om. H.] cercle or a cumpas: What so men seyen, women stonde in gode caas.

(734)

¶ ffor ther-by shewith it, þat crokydnesse Line 5132 Streccheth vnto þe gretter perfeccioun, Þan doth a þing þat is of euenesse; Of þis helpith no contradiccïoun, ffor it soth is; [is R, om. H.] it is no ficcïoun; Line 5136 Euery perfit body þat man kan neuene, Is rounde and crokyd, and noght [not R, nogh H.] streghte ne euene.

(735)

¶ By-gynnë first at heuen, & rounde it is; Line 5139 Þe sonne and mone, & þe sterrës also; Hed of man, þen mouth, & hert, I-wisse, Ben allë [alle R, al H.] rounde; and othir ben þer moo Than I expresse as [as R, os H.] now; but or I goo, Line 5143 Ȝit shal I bet wommannës part sustene; So biddeth pees, & þat to folwe I mene. Line 5145

Line 5145

(736)

¶ Now for to speke or touchen of þe place Line 5146 In which þat man & womman ¹fourmed were: Almyghty God to womman¹ [1_1 H om.] shope swich grace, That she was formëd in the worthier; [¶ Mulier fuit formata in paradiso, & homo in agro damaseeno, qui locus est extra paradi|sum, &c.] In paradys men wot wel he made here; Line 5150 But man ymade [ymade R, made H.] was out of paradys, In place of lessë worthinesse & prys. Line 5152

(737)

¶ And of þe maner of formacïoun Line 5153 Of bothë [bothe two herkeneth R, both . . . H.] two herkenþ now wel I prey; The token or þe significacioun [folio 91a] Of making of Adám, may be no way Strecchë [Strecche R, Strecch H.] to so perfyte a goode, I say, Line 5157 As didë [did H R.] þe formacïoun of Eue; And þat as swithë here I schal it preue. Line 5159

(738)

¶ ffor morë haue I for hir partye ȝit: [¶ Secundum augustinum & omnes doc|tores catho|licos, ffor|macio Eue significauit formacionem ecclesie & sa|cramentorum eius; Nam sicut, Adam dormiente, formabatur Eua & mem|bra eius de latere ipsius Ade, sic christo dor|miente in cruce, forma|batur de latere &c. [R eius ec|clesia et eius sacramenta.] Beatus ber|nardus dicit. ¶ A tempore quo christus erat duoden|nis, vsque ad annum xxx^ti, fuit cum ma|tre sua, ser|uiens ei in omnibus que sciuit sibi placitura, eo quod ad hoc venerat in mundum, vt doceret ver|am humili|tatem.] Line 5160 Making of Euë tokned þe makyng Of holy chirche, and sacramentes of it; As of þe syde of Adam, him slepyng, Euë vas [was R.] made, so our lorde crist deyeng Line 5164 Vpon þe crois, holý chirche, of his syde, And þe sacrámentes made were in þat tyde. Line 5166

(739)

¶ ffro tyme eeke crist was of xij ȝerë [twelve yere of R.] age Line 5167 Vnto þritty, he with his modir ay Was seruyng hir with right [right, om. H R.] plesant coráge; To teche humilite, he tooke þe way ffro heuen hiddir, and mekënesse verray Line 5171 Tauȝt he, þe mostë [most H R.] partie of his lyf, Whil he was with his modir & his wyfe; Line 5173

Line 5173

(740)

¶ ffor she was bothë [both H R.] two; and syn she had Line 5174 So long of hir housbondë þe maystrie, Women, I trowë, [trowe R, trow H.] be nat now so mad Þat stylë to for-go; nay, swich folye, What man þat can in a womán espye, Line 5178 Is worthi shrynëd be; god saue hem alle, And graunt hir hyë corage nat to palle! [This is a faint imitation of Chaucer.] Line 5180

(741)

¶ Holy writ seith, 'if women souereynte [¶ Ecclesi|astici. 25^o. Mulier, si primatum habeat, con|traria est viro suo.] Line 5181 Of hir housbondës haue, how þat þei Vnto housbondës [her husbondes R.] contrarïous be:' [folio 91b] Þe text is such, [is such I wote wele R, I woot wel is schuch H.] I woot wel, but what þei? That text I vndir-stondë þus al-wey: Line 5185 Whan þat housbondës hem mys-take and erre, Ageyn þat vicë wyuës maken werre. Line 5187

(742)

¶ Thogh a woman hir housbonde contrarie Line 5188 In his oppynyoun erroneous, Shul men for þat deme hir his aduersarie? Straw! be he neuer so harrageous, [outrageous R.] If he & she shul dwellen in on house, Line 5192 Goode is he suffre; therby pees may spring; Housbondës pees is pesible suffryng. Line 5194

(743)

¶ By concorde, smalë [smale R, smal H.] þingës multiplien; Line 5195 And by discorde, hate, ire, and rancour, Perysshen þingës grete, & wast & dyen. Pees hath þe fruyt of eese [oseese H, ese R.] in his fauour; To getë pees holsóme is þe labour, Line 5199 And kepe it wel, whan a [that a R, a rubd out of H.] man hath it cauȝt, That ire ne discórde bannysshe it naght. Line 5201

Line 5201

(744)

¶ How plesant to god, is of pees þe myrthe! Line 5202 What delyte eeke in pees and vnioun [¶ Et in terra pax homini|bus. Pax vobis. Pacem relin|quo vobis.] The prince of pees hath shewëd in his birth, By angels delitáble song and soun; Also, aftir his resurreccïoun Line 5206 He pees bad; and whan vnto heuen he stigh, He leftë pees in erthë truëly. [lefte . . . truly R, left . . . truly H.] Line 5208

(745)

¶ Þat ȝift of pees, þat precïouse Iewel, Line 5209 If men it kepe, & do it naght away, Sonës of crist þei may be clept [clept R, clepyd H.] ful wel; [folio 92a] [¶ Beati paci|fici &c.] But strif, which moche is to þe fendës paye, Among vs feruent is so, welawey! Line 5213 We [We R, Whe H.] cristen folk, with-inne vs [what within R.] and with-out, Haue so gret stryfe, þat þer may no pees rout.

(746)

¶ The ryot þat haþ ben with-in þis lande [lande R, londe H.] Line 5216 Among our-self, many [full many R.] a wyntrës space, [The rebellions of the Percies against Henry IV.] Hath to þe swerd put many a thousand: The gredy hert, þat woldë al embrace, With [With R, Wit H.] irous wil, and crabbed palë face, Line 5220 And swypir [swepir R.] feendly hand with strook vengeáble, Haþ many a woman maad hem cloþe [made clothed R, maad hem cloþ H.] in sable.

(747)

¶ Þis is no doutë, þat ambicïoun Line 5223 And couetysë fyre al þis debate; Tho two be of wikkéd condicïoun. No wight halt hym content of his estate; Euery man wilneþ to ben éxaltat; Line 5227 Þogh he be gret, ȝit hirë [hier R.] wolde he goo, And þeis aren causes of our stryues [ben . . . stryfe R.] & woo. Line 5229

Line 5229

(748)

¶ Werrë within our-Iself is most harmfúl Line 5230 And perillous, & most is a-gayn kynde. Þer-with þis land hath wrastled many a pul; Þe smert is swich, it may nat out of mynde, ffor it haþ cast our welthë [welthe R, welth H.] far be-hynde, Line 5234 And ferther wolë, [wole R, wold H.] but thoo werrës stynt; No goode may come of werrës wrathful dynt.

(749)

¶ Whilës þat Romaynes were in hert al oon, Line 5237 And vndeuydid, al [alle R.] hool stode, þei were Lordës of al þe worlde; foo was þer non [folio 92b] Out-warde, as who seith, myght hem greue or dere; But al sauf welthë [welthe R, welth H.] may men suffre and bere; Line 5241 With [With R, Wit H.] -Inne hym-self sprang such deuysïoun, Þat it hem broughtë [brought H R.] to confusioun. Line 5243

(750)

¶ What causyd hir inwárd werre and rumour [murmur R.] Line 5244 But auericë? she reft hem her wele; Whilës þei had in cheerte and fauour Profit commun, thei hadden bi þe stele Prosperite; but it a-way gan stele Line 5248 Whan þei him drough to profyte singuler, [syngulere R, singurer H.] And of profyt commun nat weren cheer. Line 5250

(751)

¶ By-hold how [how R, of H.] auaricë crepith inne, [¶ Nota de Auaricia.] Line 5251 And kyndlith werre, and quenchiþ vnite! O fauel! þou myghtést ben of hir kynne, ffor swich a breekë [breke pees R, breek pees H.] -pees as þat is she, Right swich a-nothir, may I namë þe; Line 5255 Þou rekkest nat, ne dredest nat, to wende ffor muk to helle, vnto þe ferthest [into the ferrest R.] ende. Line 5257

Line 5257

(752)

¶ This fauel is of pees a déstourbour; Line 5258 Twix god and mannës [mannes R, man H.] soule he werrë reisith; This worlde is blent by þis dissymulour; Vertú he blameþ, ánd vicés he preysith; Sore in þe bowe of treccherye he teisyth; Line 5262 His shot is gay, but it is énvenymed; His fikil art may nat a-ryght be rymed. Line 5264

(753)

¶ Vertuouse trouthë, [trouthe R, trouth H.] hydë þou þine heede! Line 5265 Þou mayst as wele, thyn art may nat a-vayle; Out of þis worldës grace art þou as dede: [folio 93a] But fauel, traitour! þi fals gouernaile Makith ful manny shippës for to saile Line 5269 In-to þi cofre; warme is þine office; Þat trouthë [trouthe R, trouth H.] lesith, wynnë can þi vice. Line 5271

(754)

¶ Alas! so manny a worthi clerk famóuse, Line 5272 In Oxinford, and in Cambrigge also, Stonde [Stonde R, Stode H.] vn-avancëd, wher the viciouse ffauel hath chirches. & preuendres, [prebendes R.] moo Þan god is plesid with; [with R, wit H.] alasse! of thoo Line 5276 Þat weiuen vertu so to be [wernen . . . so to be R, weiuen (or weinen) . . . so be H.] promoted; And þei helples, in whom vertu is rooted. Line 5278

(755)

¶ The knyght or sqwier, on þat othir syde, Line 5279 Or Ieman, þat haþ in pees or in werris Dispent with his lorde his blode, but he hyde Þe trouth, and [and R, an H.] can currey fauel, he nat þe nere is His lordës grace; and vn-trouth ful fer is Line 5283 ffrom him, þat worthy corage hath honóured; Grace of his [his R, þis H.] lorde by fauel is deuóured. Line 5285

Line 5285

(756)

¶ Now vnto my mateere of werre inwarde Line 5286 Resort I; but to sekë stories olde Non nede is, syn þis day sharp werre & harde Is at þe dore here, as men may be-holde: ffrauncë, no wondir þogh þine hertë [hert H R.] colde, Line 5290 And brenne also: [also sithen R, also seith H.] swich is þine agonye, Thi self manaseth þi self for to dye. Line 5292

(757)

¶ Thi self destroye, and feble is þi victórye! Line 5293 Thow hast in þi self stryven oft [ofte R, of H.] or nowe, And hast appesid al, [all R.] haue in memórie, [folio 93b] Thurgh þi prudence; wost þou nat wel how Slaghtre is defendid? and nat rekkest þow Line 5297 To rebelle a-geyn god þat it forbedith? ffor the, myne heuy gost bisily dredith. Line 5299

(758)

¶ What any part offendid hath to othir, Line 5300 Redresse it faire and charytablely; [charitably R, charytably H.] By lawe of god, ye ben ech others brothir. O! now adayës is noon enemye Lyke oon þat is to othir of bloodë nye; Line 5304 Beth ware! correct it! lest men of yow seye, 'lo! whilom this was ffraunce of hye nobley!'

(759)

¶ I am an Englyssh-man, & am þi foo, Line 5307 ffor þou a foo art vnto my lygeánce; And yit myn hertë [hert H R.] stuffid is with woo To see þyn vnkyndly disseueraunce: Accordeth yow! girdeþ [gurdeth R.] yow with suffraunce! Line 5311 Ye greuë god, and your-self harme & shame, And your foos ther-of han disport & game. Line 5313

Line 5313

(760)

¶ Alase! Also, þe greet dissencïoun, Line 5314 The pitous harme, þe hatëful discorde, Þat hath endurëd twix þis regioun And othir landës cristen! he, þat lorde Of Remes al is þe auctor of [all is the actour and R.] concorde Line 5318 And pees, sore is meeuëd þer-with; but we Naght dreden for to offend his mageste. Line 5320

(761)

¶ Off fraunce and englonde, o cristen princes, Line 5321 Syn þat your style of worthynes is ronge Thurgh-out þe world, in al þe prouinces, [folio 94a] If þat of yow myghtë [myght H R.] be red [radde R.] or songe That ye were oon in herte, ther nys no [is no R, nys H.] tonge Line 5325 That myghte expresse, how profitable and good Vnto al peple it were of cristen blood. Line 5327

(762)

¶ Yeue hem ensamplen! [ensample R.] ye ben hir mirrours; Line 5328 They folowen yow: what sorwe lamentable Is causëd of youre werrës scharpë schoures Ther wot no wight, it is irréparable! O noble cristen Princes honurable, Line 5332 ffor him þat for yow suffred passïoun, Of cristen blod, haueþ compassïoun! Line 5334

(763)

¶ Allas! what peple haþ your werrë slayn! Line 5335 What cornës wast, and dounë [wasted and doune R, wast and doun H.] trode & schent! How many a wif and maide haþ be by layn! [forlayne R.] Castels doun bette, and tymbred houses brent, And drawen downe, and al to-tornë [all to-tore R, also torne H.] and rent! Line 5339 The harm ne may nat rekened be, ne told; This werrë wexiþ al to hoor and old. Line 5341

Line 5341

(764)

¶ To wynnë worldly tresour and richesse, Line 5342 Is of your strif þe [your R.] longe continuaunce; Wherby it semeth þat ye han scantnesse Of good, or ye konne haue no súffisaunce Of plente; and if þér be hábundaunce Line 5346 In youre cofres, and in your hertës nede, Of lordly [lordes R.] cónceit may it not procede. Line 5348

(765)

¶ Whan Alisaundre deed was, and y-graue, [in his graue R.] Line 5349 And his toumbe óf gold wroght ful richëly, As kyngës dignite wole axe and craue, [folio 94b] Dyuerse philosophres droghen [drowe R, drogh H.] hem nygh Therto; and as oon of hem stood þerby, Line 5353 he seidë þus among þe folkës alle:— "Seeþ swiche a chaunge is newë now byfalle! [chaunce now newe is falle R.]

(766)

¶ "This Alisaundre madë yistirday Line 5356 Of gold his tresor, but gold makiþ now Tresor of him, as ye be-holdë may." An [An R, And H.] othir philosopher seide eek how "Al þis world yistirday was nat y-now Line 5360 To stoppen [stoppen R, stoppe H.] Alisaundres couetise, And now thre elnes of cloþë [cloth hym do, cloþ him H.] him suffice." Line 5362

(767)

¶ O worthi princes two, now takiþ hede! Line 5363 As hardy, deth is yow for to assaille As sche [he R.] dide Alisaundre, whom in drede Hadde al þis world; what myght his force auaille A-gayn þe deth? no thing, sanȝ faille; Line 5367 ffor þogh þat he swerd wer [were R.] of chiualrie, Deth threwe him doun to grounde, & lete him lye.

(768)

¶ With how [out R.] grete labour, or wiþ how [out R.] gret peyne, Men wynnë good, to þe world [þey] leue it schal; Vnto þe pitte goþ nought but þe careyne: And þogh gold werë grauen þer-with-al, Naght myght it helpë: beth nat goldës thral! Line 5374 Suffiseth to your good, [Chaucer, Truth 'Suffiseth to your good, thogh it be smal.'] ye princes boþe; With pees and restë, armë yow and clothe! Line 5376

(769)

¶ Whan ye haue stryue and foughten al your fille, Pees folwe moot; but good were it, or thanne, [¶ ffinis belli pax.] That pees were hadde: what lust han ye to spille [folio 95a] The blood þat crist with his blood boghte, whanne He on þe croys starf? o lady seint Anne, Line 5381 Thi doughter preyë to beseche hir sone To stynte of werrës þe dampnáble wone. Line 5383

(770)

¶ The book of reuelacïouns of Bride [¶ libro 4^o de reuelacioni|bus sancte Brigide, ca|pitulo cv^o Christus di|cit, "ego sum pax," &c. ¶ Si reges ffrancie & Anglie volue|rint habere pacem, ego dabo eis per|petuam pa|cem: sed pax vera non po|test haberi, nisi veritas & iusticia diligantur. Ideo quia al|ter Regum habet iustici|am, placet mihi quod per matrimo|nium fiat pax, & sic regnum ad legitti|mum here|dem poterit peruenire &c.] Line 5384 Expressith how crist þus seide hir vnto: "I am pees verray; þere I wole abide, Where as pees is; non oþer wole I do. Of ffraunce and Engëlond þe kyngës two, Line 5388 If þei wole haue pees, pees perpetuel Thei schul han"; thus hir book seiþ, woot I wel;

(771)

¶ "But verray pees may be had by no way, Line 5391 But if trouthë and Iustice louëd be; And for þat á [o R.] kyng haþ right, forthi may By matrimoignë pees and vnite Ben had; [Henry V's marriage with Francis's daughter Katherine. 'Cesynge' (l. 5397) turnd out in the end to be 'aggravating.'] cristës plesance is swiche; þus he Line 5395 That right heir is, may þe remë reioyse, Cesynge al strif, debate, or werre, or noyse." Line 5397

Line 5397

(772)

¶ Now syn þe wey is open, as ye see, Line 5398 How pees to gete in vertuous manere, ffor loue of him þat dide vppon þe tree, And of Mary, his blysful modir dere, ffolweþ þat way, and your strif leye on bere; Line 5402 Purchaseth pees by wey of marïage, And ye þerinne schul fynden auauntage. Line 5404

(773)

¶ Now, pees! approche, and dryue out werre & strif! ffrenchepe! appere, and bannysshë thow hate! Tranquillite! reuë þou [thou reve R.] ire hir lif [folio 95b] That feruent is, and leef for to debate! Ye thre vertuës, now late see abate Line 5409 The malice of þe foulë vices thre, Þat verray foos ben to al christiante. Line 5411

(774)

¶ O cristen princes! for þe loue and awe Line 5412 Of him þat is þe king of kingës al, [alle, falle, galle R.] Nessheth [Softeth R.] your hertës, and to pees yow drawe! Considereth what good may þerof fal! [alle, falle, galle R.] The hony takiþ, and leuyth þe gal! [alle, falle, galle R.] Line 5416 The sternë iugë in his iugëment May doo but right for his punyschëment. Line 5418

(775)

¶ What desobeïssance and rébellioun, Line 5419 What wil vnbuxum, what vnkyndënesse, May he preue in yow, þat destruccïoun Don of men, his handwerk, soothly, I gesse. It mostë nedës stire his rightwisnesse Line 5423 A-geyn yow; stinteþ at his reuerence, Sueth his grace and his beneuolence! Line 5425

Line 5425

(776)

¶ ffrom hennës-forth lat þere by-twixe yow be Line 5426 So vertuous a strif, [lyfe R.] for cristës sake, That ye of pees and loue and charite May striuë [be R.] ; lat your pite now a-wake, That longe haþ slept; and pees bytwixt yow make; And on þe foos of crist, your rédemptour, Werreth! thére kitheth your vigour! Line 5432

(777)

¶ Vppon þe mescreantys to makë werre, Line 5433 And hem vnto the feith of crist to brynge, ³Good were; therynne may ye [he R.] no thyng erre, That were a meritórye werrying; [werreying R, werryng H.] That is the wey vn-to the conqueryng Line 5437 Of hevenes [heven R.] blyssë, that is endëles, To which yow bryngë the [the Actour R, thauctour H.] auctour of pees. Amen!³ [3_3 In the much later hand than the rest of the poem, the same as wrote the first leaf.]

Explicit.